A week didn’t go by in September when Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin were not asked why Keeanu Benton was still playing nose tackle. It stemmed from the middle of the defense looking soft when surrendering an average of 139 rushing yards per game against the Jets, Seahawks and Patriots in the first three weeks of the season.

Benton was an easy target. He wasn’t playing well and he’s undersized for the position. Many clamored for rookie Yahya Black, who has a more traditional nose tackle build.

Tomlin and Austin stuck with Benton, and the third-year pro out of Wisconsin responded with the best game of his career against the Vikings in Dublin, when he had four tackles and 1½ sacks in the 24-21 victory.

“I thought he would have had more sacks, but T.J. is

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