Joey Porter Jr. and More Steelers Week 5 Winners!

Another week and another really hard-fought Steelers win. Thankfully, the Defense and Special Teams really came through this week as the offense sputtered early on. With the win, the Steelers find themselves on top of the AFC North with two early divisional wins. Let’s take a look at some of the players that had a great week and some who need to take a look in the mirror. 

Winners

OLB TJ Watt

If the season ended today, I would make a strong case for TJ Watt for league MVP. He is clearly the Steelers team MVP. He secured another victory for the Steelers after a game wrecking performance of two sacks (including the game sealer), two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Even more impressive - he did it all with a dislocated finger. He is clearly the best defensive player in football and is making a strong case for Defensive Player of the Year

CB Joey Porter Jr. 

Yinzers have been itching to see more of Joey Porter Jr. He has been incredible through the first 5 games of the season and is currently allowing a 0.0 passer rating when thrown on, league best according to PFF. Lamar Jackson was at the receiving end of Porter’s length and athleticism as Joey caught his first career interception. He couldn’t have picked a better moment to make a play, absolutely played a pivotal role in securing the victory. It is really hard to get back on defense after a fumble on special teams, and for a rookie to blanket Odell Beckham and get the ball back for the Steelers was really impressive. 

WR George Pickens

It speaks volumes that even in a historically bad offense like the Steelers, George Pickens still finds a way to make his presence known. This week, the offense still left plenty to be desired, but George was able to reel in 6 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown on a great read by Kenny Pickett. He takes no plays off, even in running situations he is putting his all into blocking down field. 

Honorable Mentions: RB Jaylen Warren, OT Broderick Jones, QB Kenny Pickett

Losers

RB Najee Harris

I’ve said it once. I’ve said it twice. I’ve said it a thousand times. Najee Harris is not the right running back for this system. Especially since the offensive line is so horrible, his slow burst does not make it easy for him to evade defenders. Against the Ravens, he was given 14 carries and was able to muster a whole 37 yards. A staple of this Matt Canada offense has been Najee Harris running into the B gap, right into the guard for a two yard loss. Jaylen Warren clearly is the better running back for what Matt Canada is trying to do. Naj is a great kid and I’m really glad that I don’t have to be the one to tell him that he has to take a seat on the bench. 

ST/KR Gunner Olszewski 

I’m not exactly sure what he has done to earn the starting KR/PR spot over Calvin Austin, but Danny Smith needs to make a change. Gunner did have a decent return early in the game, however the fumble at the end was inexcusable. He was really lucky that Joey Porter Jr. was able to bail him from what could have been a very long bye week.. 

We the Fans-Yinzers

Two weeks in a row we find ourselves in the losers column. This week it is because we won the football game which means that Matt Canada is safe (for now). Every week I try to have some level of hope that the offense will just click and score 30 points and every week I am disappointed. Until something changes, yinzers will be forced to watch a terrible offense every week for the foreseeable future.