Through 14 weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a record of 10-3, which I’d imagine not many of you saw coming. That also applies to the preseason metrics, with major sportsbooks such as DraftKings pegging the Steelers as a 9-win team and putting an over-under at 8 wins.

There are multiple candidates for Team MVP because it takes a village to achieve this type of success, as Head Coach Mike Tomlin would say. Heck, you can even make a case that he’s the team MVP, although he won’t be eligible for that award. Here are the players that will be eligible – counting down from five to one.

5. S DeShon Elliott

Elliott, a free-agent signing this offseason, has turned heads weekly for the black and gold. He’s stabilized a backend that has cycled in multiple bodies last year, including additions off the street like Eric Rowe. No disrespect to Rowe, who played well – but it was critical to address the safety position opposite of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

I’d actually argue that Elliott has been better than Fitzpatrick. He has 96 tackles through 14 weeks, matching his career high. That mark ranks second on the team, just behind ILB Patrick Queen, who has 98 stops. The next highest is Fitzpatrick, at 72.

Elliott has registered 6 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries. The hard-hitting Swiss army knife has been all over the field and is a significant reason why Pittsburgh is arguably the top unit in the NFL.

4. K Chris Boswell

Yes, a kicker makes this list — but Boswell isn’t just any kicker. He’s the best in the league. The “Wizard of Boz” is having an historic season. He has a shot to break the NFL’s single-season record for most field goals in a season. He currently sits at 36 field goals, as he continues to close in on a record set by former San Francisco 49ers K David Akers, who knocked through 44 field goals in 2011. His current pace has him at 47 field goals.

He’s also 10 of 12 from 50 yards or further, with one of those misses being a blocked kick. He’s been named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month twice this season, and I’d anticipate him winning AFC Special Teams Player of the Year.

3. DL Cameron Heyward

What an incredible season the old man has put together, defying father time. Heyward currently leads all AFC defensive linemen in Pro Bowl voting, and it’s warranted. The 14-year vet and six-time Pro Bowler is coming off a game where he sacked Cleveland Browns QB Jameis Winston twice, bringing his total to eight. He also has ten tackles for loss and 19 quarterback pressures.

2. QB Russell Wilson

When Wilson was signed this season to a 1-year, 1.2 million dollar deal, some saw this as a potential stop-gap to the next young signal-caller that the Steelers would have to find.

The good news is that they won’t be in the market anytime soon. In my opinion, he’s changed the course of the Steeler’s season. The black and gold have gone from a sneaky playoff team to a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

His veteran leadership and poise have been on full display. Let’s take a where he currently stacks up against the rest of the league:

Passer rating of 103.9 (6th)
255 passing yards per game (6th)
8.4 yards per attempt (5th) and has a 12-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

He’s consistently stretching the field, something Pittsburgh hasn’t seen since the days of Ben Roethlisberger’s prime.

1. OLB T.J. Watt

It’s been a relatively quiet few weeks for the 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but only by his standards. Watt still leads the league in tackles for loss and forced fumbles and has registered 9.5 sacks, good for seventh in the NFL. I’d anticipate that number getting close to fifteen at the season’s end.

Watt’s presence simply can’t be overstated. Without him on the field, the Steelers record is 1-10 over the years. Let’s process that for a second. I have never seen a statistic like that connected to someone other than a quarterback.

He’s the current favorite to take home another Defensive Player of the Year award, once again proving he’s the best in the league.

So considering that, how can he not be the MVP of his team?

Honorable mentions:

WR George Pickens
C Zach Frazier
ILB Patrick Queen

Who do you think is the Steelers team MVP? Let us know in the comments section!

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