As James Conner stood in the Steelers locker room on Wednesday morning answering questions about winning AFC Offensive Player of the Week, little did he know what would soon come.
Just 24 hours after the first announcement, the NFL named Conner the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.
"I am just trying to get better every week," said Conner. "If you put the work in, you will have success."
In the month of October Conner carried the ball 64 times for 367 yards, a 5.7 yard per carry average, and six touchdowns. He also had 13 receptions for 159 yards, a 12.2 yard average. And that is in just three games as the Steelers bye week fell during the month.
Conner also worked his way into the Steelers record books, when he became the first player in team history to rush for at least 100 yards and two touchdowns in three straight games, doing so in the three games in October. He also became the first player in the NFL to do it since Chris Johnson did it in 2009.
Through Week 8 of the season Conner is tied for first in the NFL with four 100-yard games, as well as tied for first with four multiple rushing touchdown games. Conner is ranked second in the NFL with nine rushing touchdowns and third in the NFL in rushing with 599 yards, while he is fourth with 922 yards from scrimmage. He is first in the AFC with rushing yards and yards from scrimmage.
Conner's best game during the stretch was last week against Cleveland when he carried the ball 24 times for 146 yards, a 6.1 yard average and two touchdowns. Conner added five receptions for 66 yards, for a total of 212 yards from scrimmage.
"I'm just doing what I love to do," said Conner. "Just trying to be in the right spots for Ben (Roethlisberger) with the check-downs in the passing game, and just trying to put the ball in the right spots in the right game."
The love he has for playing the game is something the fans definitely notice and appreciate, and they showed that appreciation chanting, 'Conner, Conner, Conner,' at Heinz Field last week as he was putting on a clinic.
"It was really special," said Conner. "I had to listen to it a couple of times to make sure I was hearing it right, they were saying my name. I will never forget that. That was really special for me."
