The Steelers hold a firm 1.5 game lead in the AFC North after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 to get to 8-2 on the season. And as always, there are several players that deserve acknowledging for their efforts. Here are this week’s varsity and JV performers.

K Chris Boswell

I can’t be certain, but I have yet to find another kicker in NFL history who has won his team two games by going 6-of-6 on field goals, and having that be the team’s only points – much less in the same season. Boswell is the best kicker in football and is on a completely other level from everyone else in the league as he is now 29-of-30 on kicks.

LB Patrick Queen

Queen continues to stack great performances, and this one was extra sweet in his first game against his former team. He led the Steelers with 10 tackles, including one for loss and had a game-altering forced fumble and recovery with less than a minute left in the first half that led to a field goal to put Pittsburgh up 9-7. Sideline to sideline, at the line of scrimmage, in pursuit – Queen was everywhere, and the Steelers needed him to be dominant.

LB Payton Wilson

T.J. Watt said it best after the game – “How about Payton Wilson?”

How about him, indeed. The rookie made one of the best plays of the season, ripping a pass away from Justice Hill and controlling it as he was on the ground for an interception. The Steelers kicked a sixth field goal and that proved to be enough to get the win following the interception.

EDGE T.J. Watt

Speaking of Watt, what a game pressure wise from the hopeful Defensive Player of the Year. He had a sack and two tackles for loss, most notably a huge hit to Derrick Henry in the backfield when he came off the edge untouched. It’s hard to argue for anyone to win DPOY this season over Watt, and he continues to showcase his All-World talents.

WR George Pickens

Pickens is now third in the NFL in receiving yards and had another big game against Baltimore with eight receptions for 89 yards. Many wondered how Pickens would fare as a No. 1 receiver, and he has shown them – he is more than capable of being a go-to guy.

DT Dean Lowry

Here’s a name we haven’t talked much about this season – Dean Lowry. The veteran defensive lineman signed with the Steelers from the Vikings this past offseason and has been a rotational piece on the defensive line. He made multiple notable plays on Sunday, including a pass deflection at the line of scrimmage that killed a Ravens drive and he also had a sack. Best day as a Steeler for No. 94.

CB Joey Porter JR

After a week in which he had three penalties and gave up multiple big receptions, Porter rebounded by not allowing any catches in coverage against the Ravens. A big bounce back for the star cornerback.

EDGE Nick Herbig

On the second play from scrimmage, Herbig forced a fumble on Derrick Henry that was recovered by DeShon Elliott. He immediately set the tone for the Steelers’ defense and Baltimore struggled to find any consistency all afternoon.

DT Cam Heyward

Heyward had four tackles, but more notably deflected two passes at the line of scrimmage. The defensive line did a lot of that against Lamar Jackson, and Heyward was a constant thorn in the side of Baltimore.

Junior-varsity

QB Russell Wilson

It goes without saying that this was Wilson’s worse game as a Steeler. He finished with a QBR of 14.5 and threw an interception in the red zone. And while many are putting the blame on him completely, I’d say if Darnell Washington jumps for the ball, they probably score. It wasn’t a completely dreadful performance from Wilson, and he made multiple big plays that got the Steelers into scoring position, but the lack of finishing in the red zone is alarming.

LT Dan Moore

Moore has played particularly well this season, but struggled against Baltimore. He allowed two sacks and three pressures against the Ravens. He’ll need to clean that up quickly ahead of a matchup with the Browns and Myles Garrett.

RT Broderick Jones

Jones had three penalties against Baltimore, including two holding calls and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. He also allowed four pressures and a sack. It was one of those games for No. 77.