With 10 tackles in the Dec. 13 victory at Philadelphia, Cincinnati Bengals rookie linebacker Vontaze Burfict moved ahead of Rey Maualuga for the team lead.

If Burfict can maintain it for the last two games, beginning Sunday in Pittsburgh, he would become the first rookie to lead the Bengals in tackles since Odell Thurman in 2005, and just the fifth overall.

“Me leading in tackles, me making plays, that’s great and all, but if we don’t we get the win, the tackles are thrown out the window,” Burfict said. “Stats are nothing for me.”

Proof of that came in the first game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 21, when Burfict had a coming out of sorts with a season-high 16 tackles in a nationally televised Sunday night game the Steelers won 24-17.

Instead of sticking around after the final gun to accept praise and share a few words with his new peers, Burfict left the field in a hurry.

“I was disappointed in the loss,” Burfict said. “I shook like two or three people’s hands and went straight to the locker room. I have respect for everybody on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But since I was a Broncos fan when I was younger and Pittsburgh always beat the Broncos in the playoffs, I kind of hated them. Now I’m playing for the Bengals. It’s a rivalry, and now it’s like no love at all.”

Despite the 16 tackles that night, Burfict was part of a defense that allowed Pittsburgh running back Jonathan Dwyer to run for a career-high 117 yards.

But the Bengals haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher since while climbing to the No. 6 ranked defense in the NFL. And Burfict’s play has been a big reason.

He has recorded double-digit tackles in four consecutive games and seven of the last nine to raise his season total to 139, putting him four ahead of Maualuga.

“They should combine me and Rey’s stats and instead of saying Burfict is leading, because we are a team and a linebacking corps,” Burfict said.

Wednesday night in an interview with Pro Football Talk, Maualuga said Burfict has his vote as team MVP.

“He pushes me, and makes me a better player,” Maualuga said. “We’re always talking and competing against each other to see who’s going to make the most tackles.”

Considered at one time to be a first- or second-round pick, Burfict’s reputation for being undisciplined both off the field and on it ended up costing him as all 32 teams passed on him in April’s draft.

But Burfict developed a relationship with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis after writing a letter to all 32 teams before the draft. Shortly after the draft , Lewis signed Burfict to a free-agent deal.

The original plan was to have him back up Maualuga at his natural position of middle linebacker. But when outside linebacker Thomas Howard suffered a season-ending knee injury in late September, Burfict stepped into that role and has started the last 12 games.

“I think he just likes to play football,” defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. “He’s getting more confident. The good thing about him is when he makes a mistake, he can say ‘Hey, that was me. I messed up.’ A lot of times guys don’t know when they messed up. So that’s impressive for a young guy. I think he’s getting more comfortable.”

Burfict said he’s pleased, but not satisfied with how his rookie season has developed.

“I just want to work hard with these coaches and listen to the coaches,” he said. “I knew if I did that it was going to be a successful year.

“But I have things I need to work on,” he added. “I’m just a rookie. I have a long ways to go. But it’s going to be great.”