PITTSBURGH (AP) - In a season during which very little has gone right for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, running back Jamaal Charles is the exception.

A year removed from a knee injury that limited him to just two games, Charles is ninth in the NFL in rushing and perhaps the only reliable weapon the struggling Chiefs (1-7) have on offense heading into Monday night's game against surging Pittsburgh.

The Steelers (5-3) have few problems at the moment, but clarity in the backfield is one of them. Pittsburgh's running game is humming and backups Isaac Redman and Jonathan Dwyer have both rushed for over 100 yards in a game while subbing for injured starter Rashard Mendenhall.

The reserves are playing so well, coach Mike Tomlin is making no promises that Mendenhall will get his job back whenever he returns from a strained right Achilles tendon.