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Season-shaping plays: Stephon Tuitt runs down Chiefs running back, forces fumble

This is the 13th in a series that looks at 17 plays that shaped the Pittsburgh Steelers' season -- one from every game.

For this series we will go in chronological order.

No. 1: Running back Le'Veon Bell's 38-yard touchdown scamper in a 30-27 win over the Cleveland Browns.

No, 2: Wide receiver Justin Brown's lost fumble after a 6-yard reception in a 26-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

No. 3: Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones' sack of quarterback Cam Newton for an 8-yard loss in a 37-19 win over the Carolina Panthers.

No. 4: Wide receiver Antonio Brown's drop of a sure touchdown pass in a 27-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No. 5: Cornerback Brice McCain's 21-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 17-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

No. 6: Cornerback Cortez Allen getting beat for a 51-yard touchdown catch by Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron.

No. 7: Running back Le'Veon Bell's 43-yard reception in a 30-23 win over the Houston Texans.

No. 8: Cornerback William Gay's 33-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 51-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

No. 9: Wide receiver Markus Wheaton's 47-yard touchdown catch in a 43-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens.

No. 10: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's rare and untimely interception in a 20-13 loss to the New York Jets.

No. 11: Bell's 5-yard touchdown run in a 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans.

No. 12: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Kenny Stills' 69-yard touchdown catch in a 35-32 win over the Steelers.

No. 13: Outside linebacker Arthur Moats' fumble recovery in a 42-21 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

No. 14: Gay's 52-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Steelers' 27-20 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

No. 15: Defensive end Stephon Tuitt's hustle produces the only turnover of the game.

The setting: The Chiefs, trailing 10-6 in the third quarter at Heinz Field, were on the move when Tuitt showed why the Steelers were ecstatic when he slipped to them in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.

The play: Quarterback Alex Smith completed a screen pass to running back Jamaal Charles but Tuitt showed great pursuit and belted Charles from behind after a 3-yard gain. Tuitt's hit jarred the ball loose and inside linebacker Vince Williams recovered it at the Steelers' 25-yard line.

What it meant for the bigger picture: The Steelers turned the turnover into a touchdown when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger marched them 75 yards and capped the 10-play drive with a 3-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Steelers went on to beat the Chiefs, 20-12, putting them one win away from capturing their first AFC North title since 2010. Tuitt's big play highlighted the vast improvement the Notre Dame product made from the beginning of the season – and showed why he is a cornerstone of the Steelers' defense moving forward.