Obscure stat time: The Pittsburgh Steelers are 6-2, which was their record after eight games in all three seasons they went to the Super Bowl in the Ben Roethlisberger era. After a good offensive showing against the New York Giants, Pittsburgh sits atop the AFC North heading into their bye week. Here is who stood out in Week 8
Varsity
QB Russell Wilson
Wilson built off his great performance in Week 7 and carried it over into Week 8. Had it not been for two touchdowns taken away, he would have thrown for over 300 yards and three scores while the Steelers put up 40 points. However, going 20-of-28 for 278 and a handful of beautiful deep balls got the job done for the Steelers.
RB Najee Harris
This was Harris’ third consecutive 100-yard game as he totaled 114 yards on six yards per carry. He has come to life over the last month and he is running as well as he ever has. This is the guy Pittsburgh wanted when they took him in the first round in 2021.
WR Calvin Austin III
What a game from No. 19. He had the game’s first touchdown on a 73 yard punt return, and then he double dipped later on by catching a touchdown pass from Russell Wilson. He caught three passes for 54 yards and had two scores in what was easily the best game of his career.
WR George Pickens
Pickens should have had two touchdowns in this game, and he is now up to three scores being taken away due to penalty or the dumbest rule in football saying dragging the same foot twice doesn’t count as a catch. Regardless, he caught four passes for 74 yards, including an absolute string on a crosser from Wilson for 43 yards.
WR Van Jefferson
How about Van Jefferson these last two weeks? He had his first touchdown as a Steeler last week, and in Week 8, he made a very good back shoulder catch for a 36 yard gain on third and long. He had four catches for 62 yards on the night, both by far the most he has had in a game this season.
EDGE T.J. Watt
Yeah, that was vintage T.J. Watt. Seven tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He is the best defensive player in football and at this point it doesn’t feel like anyone is a close second.
EDGE Alex Highsmith
Highsmith really could have had three sacks on the night because his spin move on Watt’s first sack was flawless and got pressure on Daniel Jones right away. He had two sacks on the night, as well, and had six hits on Daniel Jones.
LB Patrick Queen
Queen was quick to the ball and continues to look night-and-day better than he did in the first month of the season. He finished with eight tackles, which was tied for the most on the team for the night.
CB Beanie Bishop
Another interception for the undrafted rookie. That’s three in two weeks, this one sealed the win.
Junior-Varsity
Defense
Outside of a small handful of defenders and defensive plays, the defense was largely bad. The Giants had four plays of 25 yards or more, Tyrone Tracy rushed for 145 yards on over seven yards per carry, and Darius Slayton beat them twice for big gains, finishing with 108 yards on four catches. Against a Daniel Jones-led offense, I expected a much more dominant performance.
Finishing
Once again, the offense consistently gets into the red zone and stalls out. Granted, one was taken away due to a Broderick Jones penalty (shocking), they had two other drives that ended with field goals in scoring position. They are getting so close, and 26 points certainly isn’t anything to be upset over. However, they will need touchdowns in these games down the stretch and once the playoffs arrive.
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