MIKE MITCHELL
Safety
INDIANAPOLIS – The Steelers ended up winning this game, 28-7, but the way it unfolded could've been a lot different if not for the efforts of Mike Mitchell. On two different occasions, Mitchell made plays to prevent the Colts from scoring from the Steelers' 1-yard line, and then his fourth quarter interception ended another Indianapolis possession and was the catalyst for the touchdown that iced the outcome.
With the Steelers protecting a 21-7 lead late in the first half, the Colts had a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Scott Tolzien's pass in the end zone for Chester Rogers was being juggled as Mitchell came across and knocked the ball free with a hit on the receiver and Indianapolis turned the ball over on downs. In the third quarter and into the fourth, the Colts ran 19 plays and covered 89 yards and consumed 11:22 of clock time, and they ended up with no points again. This time Mitchell came up to stop Tolzien on a quarterback draw from the 1-yard line, and then Phillip Dorsett dropped a pass in the end zone on a fourth-and-1. Then later in the fourth quarter, Tolzien tried to get some points quickly and went down the field for Dorsett, only to have Mitchell range over and make the interception at the Steelers' 10-yard line.
Mitchell finished with seven tackles, an interception, and two passes defensed, and he is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were Ben Roethlisberger, who completed 14-of-20 for 221 yards, with three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 146.0; Le'Veon Bell, who rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries and scored a touchdown, while also catching four pass for 22 more yards; Antonio Brown, who caught five passes for 91 yards and three touchdowns; Will Gay, who had three tackles, a sack/strip, an interception, and two passes defensed; and Ryan Shazier, who led the team with 10 tackles.
