Oct 22, 2015 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The numbers don’t necessarily add up, but the Steelers will take them.

The Steelers enter Sunday’s game at Kansas City ranked 23rd in the NFL in total defense, including 26th against the pass.

Yet, they are sixth in the league in rushing defense and, more important, fifth in scoring defense, allowing just 18 points per game.

It’s been a winning formula for the Steelers, who will take a 4-2 record to 1-5 Kansas City despite a rash of injuries, including playing the past three games without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

“Our (defensive) coordinator, (Keith) Butler deserves all the credit,” said Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons. “He’s doing a great job of putting us in position to make plays. We’re bending, but we’re not breaking.”

The Steelers have bent quite a bit, especially in their past two games, allowing 768 combined passing yards from San Diego and Arizona.

The combined score in those games, however, has favored the Steelers, 49-33, as Pittsburgh has won the turnover battle, 5-0.

Few people expected the Steelers defense to be a reason why they won games, particularly early in the season. In his first season replacing longtime coordinator Dick LeBeau, Butler has made it work, despite a number of injuries.

“Guys in the locker room, we know what we’re capable of,” said safety Robert Golden, one of several players forced into action because of injuries.

“I’m sure nobody outside of this locker room believed in us, but we always believed what we can do.”

The Steelers have 17 sacks, which rank sixth in the league. As a result, their turnover ratio is good. Pittsburgh has forced nine turnovers while giving the ball away an NFL-low three times.

“The guys are just playing hard and taking advantage of opportunities, when presented,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “So, I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. Some of it is fortune. Some of it is guys just playing hard and creating their own fortune because of it. I just hope it continues.”

Butler isn’t going to take credit for the resurgence, even though the Steelers ranked in the bottom half of the league in nearly every defensive statistic a year ago.

“I haven’t played a down,” Butler said. “They do a good job of talking about trying to get turnovers and how turnovers can be the lifeblood of our defense. Fortunately, I played on Chuck Knox’s defense his first year in Seattle. We changed from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense.

“In all of that change, we went to the AFC Championship, not because we were a great defense, but because we were the best AFC team in turnover-takeaway ratio. That’s a big thing. In terms of stats, if you follow that, look at the win-loss records. It would correlate.”

It certainly has for the Steelers. They hope to continue that against the Chiefs, despite using their third quarterback of the season, Landry Jones.

Barring a miraculous recovery by Roethlisberger, Jones will make his first NFL start against the Chiefs.

Jones, who led the NFL in preseason passing yards this year with 724, threw two interceptions in 120 preseason attempts. If he can keep his mistakes to a minimum and the defense can force a turnover or two, the Steelers could improve to 3-1 without Roethlisberger this season.

“We’ve done a nice job of taking care of the football,” said Tomlin. “When you do that, even when you’re punting, you’re putting the opposing offense on the long field and you’re giving your defense an opportunity to get off the field without giving up points. So, I tip my cap to the defense, in terms of keeping the score down, but you’ve also got to tip your cap to the offense and punting unit.”

Odds and end zones

Cornerback Antwon Blake (thumb) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. … Still missing from practice were defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee), quarterback Mike Vick (hamstring) and safety Will Allen (ankle). … Roethlisberger (MCL sprain) was limited again Thursday and offensive coordinator Todd Haley said he is planning on Jones starting against the Chiefs. … The Without Roethlisberger, the Steelers are 1-6 against the Baltimore Ravens, 11-2 against all other teams.