Ryan Tannehill wasn't the only Miami Dolphins player with an important, bounce-back game Sunday against Pittsburgh. Embattled cornerback Byron Maxwell, who was recently benched in Week 4, had his best performance of the season with five tackles and four passes defensed.

Maxwell did a solid job helping slow Steelers Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown, who had just four catches for 39 yards. Brown was visibly frustrated in the second half as Miami’s defense held the Steelers' high-powered offense to just seven points in the second half.

"Yeah, he was hot," Maxwell said of Brown. "But who cares?"

Brown’s frustration also was evident after the loss Sunday.

"I don't call the plays. I just run the plays," Brown told reporters in the Steelers' locker room. "I didn't get it done today, no excuses."

This was quiet a comeback for Maxwell, who struggled earlier in the season against lesser receivers such as Terrelle Pryor of Cleveland and Julian Edelman of the Patriots. Brown is arguably the best receiver Maxwell will face this season, and the veteran cornerback was up to the challenge.

Miami often kept help over the top to prevent big plays and allowed Maxwell to use his size and long arms to cover Brown’s short and intermediate routes. It was clear the Dolphins were not going to let Brown beat them in this game, which was a wise strategy.

Miami acquired Maxwell and middle linebacker Kiko Alonso in a trade with Philadelphia in March. Alonso has done his part and leads the Dolphins with 55 tackles.

Coaches have urged Maxwell the past few weeks to step up his game. Miami is thin at cornerback with injuries to rookie starter Xavien Howard (knee) and veteran Chris Culliver (knee) still on the physically unable to perform list. Maxwell believes Sunday’s win could be a starting point for turning the corner for the defense, which is ranked 26th in the NFL.

"I think it is and it can be," Maxwell said. "We just got to go back to work like we did this week and put the work in. Hard work always pays off."