CAMERON HEYWARD
Defensive End
After 55 points and 610 total yards last week in New England, the defense needed to respond with a better performance, and the response was going to need to start with stopping the run. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller had combined for 980 yards rushing through Buffalo's first nine games, and the Steelers defense had allowed Oakland and the Patriots each to rush for 197 yards in the previous two weeks.
But at Heinz Field, Jackson and Spiller combined for only 78 yards on 20 carries, and what the Steelers defense was able to accomplish began with some solid play along the line of scrimmage.
Cameron Heyward was a big part of that, and he finished with six tackles, including one for loss, plus a sack. Heyward is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were William Gay, who led the team with 11 tackles, including two for loss, and added a pass defensed; Lawrence Timmons, who had eight tackles, including one for loss, plus a sack and a pass defensed; Antonio Brown, who was the team's primary offensive threat with six receptions for 104 yards, plus two punt returns for 74 more; and Jonathan Dwyer, who only carried four times but converted two third-and-1s and added a 17-yard run.
