KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Le'Veon Bell got the ball, Ben Roethlisberger got a measure of redemption and the Steelers got the offensive bounce-back performance they were seeking on the heels of an embarrassing home loss.
Bell rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown, Roethlisberger rebounded from his five-interception game and the Steelers defense made two fourth-down stops in the fourth quarter to preserve a 19-13 victory that knocked the Chiefs from the ranks of the unbeaten.
The win not only gave the Steelers (4-2) sole possession of first place in the AFC North, it moved them within a game of the Chiefs (5-1) for the best record in the conference.
"After a bitter defeat, we talked about responding and responding in the right way," coach Mike Tomlin said, referring to the 30-9 home loss to Jacksonville seven days earlier. "The ultimate response would be measured today. It was good to see the proper response, but it's only significant if we use it as we move forward."
Bell's performance — which looked similar to his 170-yard game in the AFC divisional playoff round here in January — came after he lobbied for more carries. He had just 15 for 47 yards in the loss to Jacksonville.
In the first half, Bell set career highs with 17 attempts and 99 yards to help the Steelers build a 12-3 lead. He carried eight times for 64 yards on a 12-play drive that culminated with his 3-yard touchdown run that gave the Steelers the lead for good 9-3 on the first play of the second quarter. He finished with 32 carries.
"What I said last week, I'm not sure if it translates to this week, but we got a 'W,' " Bell said. "That's the biggest thing for us."
The Chiefs entered the game leading the NFL in points per game (32.8) and were second in time of possession. But the Steelers showed that the best way to keep Alex Smith, the NFL's passer-rating leader, and rookie Kareem Hunt, the league rushing leader, in check was by keeping them on the sideline.
The Steelers possessed the ball for almost 22 minutes in the first half and for 36 minutes, 39 seconds overall.
Steelers receiver Antonio Brown beats the Chiefs' Terrance Mitchell to the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 at Arrowhead Stadium. For more images from Week 6, visit the Trib's photo gallery .
Photo by Chaz Palla
"They were the tougher team today," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "We knew the mindset before the game. We knew it. They were not afraid of us. … Their game plan was very simple: go punch the Chiefs in the mouth and see what they can do. We didn't respond enough early."
The Chiefs had 6 total yards in the first half and didn't get a first down until less than two minutes remained. Still, the Steelers led by only nine points after a drive that began at their 1 covered 93 yards but sputtered after a first-and-goal from the 2. Chris Boswell kicked a 24-yard field goal.
"You want to get it into the end zone, but obviously it was a good drive," Bell said. "It gave us confidence we could move the ball on these guys."
Playing one week after throwing a career-high five interceptions and having two returned for touchdowns and proclaiming "maybe I don't have it anymore," Roethlisberger completed 17 of 25 passes for 252 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The 97.4 passer rating was his second best of the season.
Since 2008, Roethlisberger is 7-0 in the game after he has thrown at least three interceptions. Lifetime, he is 9-3 in such games.
"I guess this old cowboy has got a little bit left in him," Roethlisberger said.
His touchdown pass was a 51-yarder to Antonio Brown, whose acrobatic catch-and-run gave the Steelers a 19-10 lead with 3:24 remaining. On third-and-2 and while working out of the shotgun with an empty backfield, Roethlisberger looked for Brown in double coverage on the left sideline.
Cornerback Phillip Gaines tipped the ball, but Brown gathered it with his left hand and took off down the field for his eighth and final reception of the day. It gave Brown a game-high 155 receiving yards.
"I always bet on AB," Tomlin said. "I've stood on the sideline over the years and watched him work. I can't tell you that I'm surprised by it."
Tomlin also wasn't surprised the Chiefs didn't go down quietly. Smith, after throwing a 57-yard touchdown pass earlier in the quarter, directed a field-goal drive with 2:17 remaining that cut the Steelers' lead to six points.
The Chiefs got the ball back at their 44 with 1:42 remaining following Jordan Berry's 62-yard punt and Tyreek Hill's 30-yard return. The Chiefs moved to the Steelers 40 before James Harrison, splitting time with rookie T.J. Watt at right outside linebacker, sacked Smith for an 8-yard loss on third down.
On fourth-and-18, Smith was forced into an incompletion, and the Steelers ran out the clock.
The defense also stopped a fourth-and-goal from the 2 earlier in the quarter and held Hunt to 21 yards rushing. Smith had 246 yards passing, with almost all of it coming in the final quarter.
"Guys pride themselves on getting wins," Bell said. "That loss we had last week, guys couldn't wait to come back and play again and recover from that loss. We had a great week of practice, and it showed today.
"It wasn't the prettiest game. We left some plays out on the field, but as a team we played good enough to get the job done."
Joe Rutter is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jrutter@tribweb.com or via Twitter @tribjoerutter.
