This Steelers' Season was a Movie Unlike I've Ever Seen

Best Supporting Actor: Cameron Heyward

If TJ Watt was the Steelers MVP, Heyward was the MVL on defense - “Most Valuable Leader.” First and foremost, Heyward is the Steelers nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, an award he would tell you is bigger than any defensive hardware he could have snagged. This is the fourth time Heyward has been nominated for the award. 

His accomplishments on the field are just as significant. He started all 17 games and finished with 10 sacks. He was named an All-Pro for the fourth time in his career, and for the third consecutive season. 

Ben Roethlisberger said in his postgame comments after the Chiefs loss that he told Heyward “it’s his turn to pass on the standard of being part of the Steelers.” 

The highest of honors. 

Best Live Action Short Film: TJ Watt’s Strip Sack of Geno Smith

This is one play I’ll always remember from this season. It wins in the “short film” category because of how abruptly Watt ended the Seahawks' chances of pulling off the upset at Heinz Field. The game went into overtime, and Seahawks’ QB Geno Smith tried to move up in the pocket to elude the Steelers pass-rush and make a key play in the waning minutes. Watt, per usual, was right there to make the strip-sack. Devin Bush recovered and the rest was history. A Chris Boswell Field Goal would win the game for the Steelers.

Best Original Score: Pat Freiermuth's TD against the Browns

The best play from this season goes to a player who established himself as one of the best tight ends in the entire NFL in his rookie campaign. This was a significant win for the Steelers at the time, as they went into Cleveland looking to enact revenge in their first chance since the heartbreaking playoff loss last season. Freiermuth greatly helped the cause.

With the Steelers trailing 10-9 in the 4th quarter, Roethlisberger threw a jump-ball that only his man could get to. And Freiermuth made one of the best catches of the season from anyone in the NFL.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Ben Roethlisberger to Ray Ray McCloud

4th and 8. Steelers playoff hopes are on the line in an incredibly hostile environment in Baltimore. Roethlisberger’s first read is Freiermuth - and he’s blanketed. So what does he do? He adapts. Like he’s done his whole career. Ben finds Ray Ray McCloud over the middle for the conversion. Which eventually led to a Chris Boswell game-winning Field Goal. A little bit of Roethlisberger' magic in his final regular season game. Even Martin Scorcese couldn’t script that. 

Best Director: Mike Tomlin

I think we can all agree that the Steelers at the end of the day were just devoid of talent compared to the rest of the field. The defense that was supposed to carry a rebuilt offense was historically bad against the run, finishing dead last in the league in opposing rushing yards allowed. And do I even have to tell you about the offense? They were the only team in the NFL to not score a first-quarter touchdown over the last nine weeks of the season, tied with the dumpster fire that is the New York Giants. 

And yet they swept the Browns and Ravens, beat the Titans and Bills - and made the Playoffs. Mike Tomlin SOMEHOW made the playoffs, with all of that considered. He should be in the running for Coach of the Year. That's not hyperbole.

Best Picture: Sometimes words don't adequately suffice. Ben Roethlisberger’s last game at Heinz Field. He beats the Cleveland Browns, yet again. And walks off for one final curtain call with his kids by his side. 

A unanimous best picture winner.