Steelers 2023 Mid-Season Awards!

One thing is for sure: you can have the best game of your life vs. the Steelers, and they will somehow find a way to win. They've been outgained by 790 yards and are 5-3. The inevitable is upon us, being over .500 every year; it's a blessing and a curse simultaneously.

But there has been SOME good with this team despite all the backward decisions being made. And after eight weeks, Steeler fans and other groups are still trying to figure out this team. While we're doing that, let's take a moment to appreciate the brighter stars of the team and hand out some awards. There will be four categories:

• Offensive player of the year
• Defensive player of the year
• Rookie of the year
• Most entertaining game

Let's get it!

Offensive Player of the Year:

George Pickens, WR 

(Honorable Mentions: Diontae Johnson, Jaylen Warren)

When you throw it up to Pickens, good things happen. Thirty receptions, 521 yards, three touchdowns. Also averaging 17.4 yards per reception (fifth in the league). A sticky-handed savage is Mr. Pickens. With Diontae Johnson and George Pickens at the helm, it's a top-tier receiving core at its peak! And with nine more games to go, could the Steelers be on their way to a 1K receiving yard receiver for the first time since 2021? 

Defensive Player of the Year: 

TJ Watt, OLB

(Honorable Mentions: Alex Highsmith, Cole Holcomb)

In 2021, TJ Watt signed a contract with the Steelers worth $112 million until 2026. I am here to say that the Steelers underpaid him. With everything he is doing for the team and the defense alone, he was the best defender in the 2017 draft and already one of the best Steeler defenders of all time! 9.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. TJ personifies what renegade is and continues to dominate. 

Rookie of the Year:

Joey Porter, Jr., CB

(Honorable Mentions: Nick Herbig, Broderick Jones)

If the Steelers had started their rookies sooner, this would come with a lot more to talk about. But with that being said, Porter has been a positive addition to the cornerback room despite his presence being short early on. But out of the 21 times Porter was targeted, he has only allowed six receptions. The son of legendary Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr. also has an interception, two breakups, and a 45.1 QB rating when targeted—a welcome addition to the squad on a struggling secondary. 

Most Entertaining Game:

Steelers vs. Browns Week 2

Honorable Mentions: (@ Raiders, vs. Ravens)

Despite the upsetting injury to Nick Chubb, you can't deny the game was still wild, with the chance of winning for both sides changing almost every drive. It wasn't a perfect game, both sides had their ugly plays, but in a way, it made it wilder. On both offenses, the Steelers had a 71-yard touchdown catch and run by George Pickens, and the Browns had 20 first downs. On both defenses, the Steelers had two defensive touchdowns with a pick-six by Alex Highsmith and, later on, a forced fumble by Highsmith, which resulted in a fumble recovery for a game-winning touchdown, and the Browns had a fumble recovery despite the Steelers having a fumble recovery the play before! Even the special teams got some action, with Steelers kicker Chris Boswell and Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins nailing 50+ yarders. Despite it all, the Steelers were able to hang tough and keep the Browns out of the endzone for a 26-22 win in Pittsburgh. 

We're halfway through the season, folks! Will the awards stay the same? We got nine more games to stress about, and who knows? Maybe we'll have some more games afterward in the playoffs. Strap your butts in Steeler Nation because this is going to be wild.