KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If Todd Haley looks across the field at Mike Tomlin this afternoon and feels a twinge of envy, could anybody blame him?

It does seem as though opportunity is served in silver goblets to some people, while others pick through shards and scraps.

Haley’s grueling maiden voyage as a head coach in the NFL has been marked by failure, controversy, frustration and setback. He took over the woebegone Kansas City Chiefs, a franchise which had won only six games in two years, and it’s been rough sailing for the former Steelers ball boy.

But Tomlin stepped happily into Bill Cowher’s shoes in Pittsburgh and found a perfect

fit. He won the AFC North his first season and the Super Bowl his second.

Tomlin takes bows.

Haley takes shots.

As his Chiefs (2-7) prepared to host the Steelers (6-3) today, Haley was being accused by various disgruntled fans of being ignorant and abusive, an arrogant hothead.

He has tried to meet the criticism calmly – a demeanor he acknowledges he doesn’t always show when snarling at players.

“This is a hard job. It’s a big job, and I’m finding my way through it,” Haley said. “I would hope that nobody thinks that I’m arrogant in going about the job. I’m fighting for my life, to be honest, and that’s the way I feel each and every day.”

Haley has been criticized for firing offensive coordinator Chan Gailey 13 days before the season opener and assuming the position himself. He’s taken heat for his handling of players, for cursing at them during games. He’s also been taken apart for some questionable tactical decisions such as going and failing on fourth down.

“I think I’ve tried to be open and forthright that I don’t have all the answers,” Haley said. “I feel like I’ve tried to apologize when I’ve said something wrong or inappropriate. I’ve always tried to do that with my players and everybody.”

Tomlin inherited a much more talented team than Haley.

But he can sympathize with all the travails of this week’s opponent.

“It’s difficult because there’s no manual for these jobs,” he said. “Like myself, coach Haley’s been around some great teams and great coaches, so he’s had plenty of examples of how to go about what it is that we do. But the first time you get an opportunity to do it, it’s just that.

‘You’ve thought about it a thousand times in your mind what you would do in certain situations and so forth, but it’s a little different when you actually get to do it.

“It’s an adjustment period. But ultimately, you’re not put in that position unless you’re capable.”

In spite of his many run-ins with players, Haley has never seemed in danger of losing the team’s respect.

“He tells us when he’s made a mistake,” said running back Kolby Smith. “He’s tough on us, sure, but he treats us fairly.”

The Chiefs’ wobbly offense, still adjusting to the release of controversial running back Larry Johnson two weeks ago, took another blow this week when Dwayne Bowe, their best wide receiver, was suspended by the league for four games for violating the banned substance policy. That will leave the pass-catching corps thin and considerably weakened.

Bobby Wade, inactive the past two weeks, will probably get a lot of attention from quarterback Matt Cassel. So will Chris Chambers, who caught two touchdown passes two weeks after being signed off waivers from San Diego.

But the Steelers will be without injured Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu, one of the top defensive players in the league. He will be replaced by Tyrone Carter.

“They have some good receivers as well,” Carter said. “I know (Bowe) was a big part

of their offense, but they

still got a couple guys, weapons out there. Chambers is doing a great job for them. They got a running back out there who is doing well for them as well. I don’t think they miss Larry Johnson too much.”

Chambers will be playing the Steelers for the fourth time in just 13 months.

So far, he’s 0-3.

“They’re a bend-but-don’t-break kind of defense,” Chambers said. “They’re going

to bring a lot of pressure. I think I have a good feel for them. I’m pretty familiar with their roster. It’s always great to go against the champions.”

A victory would be two straight for the Chiefs for the first time since the final two weeks of the 2006 season.

“It comes down to executing,” said Chambers.

Exactly what Haley’s been saying since he was hired in February.

Notes: Steelers have allowed touchdowns on kickoff returns in three of past four games. ... Ben Roethlisberger’s 174 yards and 51.5 passer rating against Cincinnati last week were his worst in a game he finished since 15-6 setback to Philadelphia early last year. ... Chiefs had one of most statistically lopsided wins in franchise history at Pittsburgh in ’86, winning 24-19 despite being outgained 515 yards to 171. ... Chiefs QB Brodie Croyle’s first NFL completion came in 45-7 blowout in Pittsburgh in 2006 – to defender who took it back for TD.