Bills Stay on Offensive Against Steelers : AFC: Kelly passes for 363 yards and a career-high six touchdowns as Buffalo beats Pittsburgh, 52-34.

Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly is becoming a master of improvisation.

Kelly’s ability to change plays at the line enabled him to pass for a career-high six touchdowns Sunday as the Buffalo Bills came within six points of eclipsing their scoring record in a 52-34 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kelly, who completed 31 of 43 passes for 363 yards, connected with Don Beebe on four touchdown pass plays. Beebe, a third-year receiver from Chadron College in Nebraska who scored only three touchdowns previously, had two scoring receptions against the Steelers that came off extemporaneous pass routes called at the line.

“I just call a play and then give individual patterns if I feel like it,” Kelly said. “I’d come up with certain plays, and I know, from certain things we’d worked on in practice, that I could call a little sandlot football, telling Beebe different things to run.”

Kelly’s ad-libbing came against a Steeler defense that was ranked first in the league last season and allowed a league-low nine touchdown passes. The Bills (2-0) followed up a franchise-best 582 yards in the opener against Miami with 537 yards against the Steelers (1-1).

“We’re a good defense,” said Steeler cornerback David Johnson, who was burned for two touchdowns, “and they destroyed us.”

Barry Foster of the Steelers rushed for a career-high 121 yards in nine carries, including a 56-yard touchdown just before halftime that brought the Steelers to within 24-10.

But the Bills were relentless, scoring on seven of their 15 drives.

Buffalo sputtered momentarily on its way to its 12th consecutive victory at Rich Stadium when Scott Norwood missed a 50-yard field goal on the Bills’ first possession.

The Bills scored on their next four drives on a 53-yard touchdown pass play to James Lofton, a 50-yard field goal by Norwood and 34- and 14-yard touchdown pass plays to Beebe.

Leading 24-10 at halftime, Kelly connected with Andre Reed on a 15-yard touchdown pass play 3:47 into the second half.

Pittsburgh made its only challenge in the third quarter when Bryan Hinkle intercepted a pass by Kelly and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown.

Rod Woodson also intercepted a pass by Kelly to set up a 27-yard field goal by Gary Anderson that made the score 31-27.

Kelly and Beebe snuffed out any hope of a Steeler comeback with fourth quarter touchdowns of 11 and four yards. Beebe finished with 10 receptions for 112 yards.

Nate Odomes also scored for the Bills on a 32-yard interception return.

Warren Williams and Merril Hoge scored on one-yard runs for the Steelers.