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MARKUS WHEATON** Wide Receiver

SEATTLE – The question: what were going to be the consequences of a Seattle decision to have cornerback Richard Sherman shadow Antonio Brown all over the field? The answer: Markus Wheaton would turn in the most prolific pass-catching performance in the history of CenturyLink Field.

It ended up being a 39-30 loss for the Steelers in Seattle that dropped the team's record to 6-5 and into the muck of a bunch of AFC teams fighting for one of the conference's two Wild Card playoff spots. But on the way to getting to that outcome, it was a big day for Wheaton, a career day, in fact, for the third-year pro from Oregon State.

With Sherman shadowing Brown all over the field, and with Martavis Bryant having some issues with drops, it was Wheaton who stepped up with nine catches for 201 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown. According to CBS, Wheaton's total represented the most for a receiver since CenturyLink Field opened in 2002.

Wheaton is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.

Also considered were Cam Heyward, who had three tackles, a sack, and a blocked extra point; DeAngelo Williams, who rushed eight times for 29 yards and caught seven passes for 88 more to finish with 117 yards from scrimmage; Ben Roethlisberger, who completed 36-of-55 for 456 yards, with one touchdown, two interceptions, and a rating of 82.1; Brown, who still managed to catch six passes for 51 yards; Will Gay, who had three tackles and a sack; Bryant, who caught five passes for 69 yards; and Heath Miller, who caught five passes for 45 yards in the first half before being forced from the game with a rib injury.