RUSSELL WILSON
Quarterback
The typical tradition is to give presents to someone celebrating a birthday. But 48 hours after his 36th birthday, Russell Wilson gave the Steelers a present.
Wilson was the triggerman for an offense that was historically productive in a game the Steelers absolutely needed to win vs. a division opponent that had scored 30-plus points five times coming into the weekend and would do it a sixth time in this game. Wilson completed 29-of-38 (76.3 percent) for 414 yards, with 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a rating of 126.4. It was the first time a Steelers quarterback passed for 400 yards since Ben Roethlisberger did it in Denver on Nov. 25, 2018, and the first time the team scored 40 points since it posted 41 vs. Atlanta on Oct. 17, 2018. He completed passes to 10 different receivers – 3 tight ends, 3 running backs, and 4 wide receivers; he changed plays at the line of scrimmage based on the pre-snap look from the Bengals defense; and he provided the Steelers with the best quarterback play they have had since before Roethlisberger's elbow surgery.
For his part in the 44-38 victory in Cincinnati, Wilson is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Also considered were DT Cam Heyward, who had 5 tackles, including 2 for loss, 1 sack, and a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted by CB Donte Jackson; OLB T.J. Watt, who had 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 5 hits on the quarterback and a forced fumble; RB Najee Harris, who rushed for 75 yards on 16 carries (4.7 average) and 1 touchdown and added 6 catches for 54 more yards to finish with 129 yards from scrimmage; ILB Payton Wilson, who had 3 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 21 yards for a touchdown; OLB Nick Herbig, who had 2 tackles, 1 sack, 2 hits on the quarterback, and the forced fumble that Wilson returned for the touchdown; TE Pat Freiermuth, who caught 6 passes for 68 yards (11.3 average) and a 25-yard touchdown; and SS DeShon Elliott, who led the team with 11 tackles.
