IRVING, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells challenged his struggling offense to "do something" to keep pace with the high-scoring Kansas City Chiefs.

Then he gave them some gimmicks to help pull it off.

Getting touchdowns on a flea flicker pass to Terry Glenn, and then on a Glenn end around inside the 10-yard line, the Cowboys kept their playoff hopes alive by pulling out a 31-28 victory over Kansas City yesterday in a tense, thrilling game befitting a matchup between Parcells and Dick Vermeil.

Drew Bledsoe had his best game in months, throwing for 332 yards and matching his season-best with three touchdowns. He led Dallas (8-5) on a go-ahead drive early in the fourth quarter, then took the club 68 yards in 14 plays for the winning score — a 1-yard pass to tight end Dan Campbell with 22 seconds left.

"That was really a great drive, probably the best one of the year," Parcells said.

Yet ending their two-game losing streak wasn't that simple. The Cowboys had to hold their breath as Lawrence Tynes went for a 41-yard field goal that would have forced overtime. After a low snap, it went wide right, ending a three-game winning streak for the Chiefs (8-5).

"This is a hugely important game for us," said Bledsoe, who was 22 of 34 with no turnovers. "We've got to keep winning."

The final play was only part of the frustration for Kansas City. The Chiefs also wasted 143 yards rushing and three touchdowns by Larry Johnson and 340 yards passing by Trent Green, plus a chance to move up in the AFC wild-card chase because of a loss by division rival San Diego.

Kansas City missed a chance to put the game away early as its first five possessions reached at least midfield, but only two ended in touchdowns.

STEELERS 21, BEARS 9

PITTSBURGH — Jerome Bettis, the NFL's No. 5 career rusher but a forgotten man much of the season, plowed through muck and snow for two touchdowns and 101 yards as the Steelers ended Chicago's eight-game winning streak.

Bettis, held to 22 yards on 14 carries in his previous two games, had his first 100-yard game in the regular season since getting 117 on Dec. 26 against Baltimore.

"He's a mudder," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "Those were great field conditions for him. People think he's down and out and he had a game like he had today."

Ben Roethlisberger — all but ignoring the deep pass due to his bad thumb and the bad weather — threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ward on Pittsburgh's first drive after hitting Willie Parker for 45 yards, both on screen passes.

The win kept the Steelers (8-5) alive in the AFC playoff race, and cut the Bears' (9-4) lead over Minnesota (8-5) to one game in the NFC North.