The Pittsburgh Steelers were back on the field Sunday for the sixteenth game of the 2023 regular season when they played the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 of regular season action. The Steelers were winners in the contest, but that doesn’t mean every player had a good or bad performance.

Players who play well can be considered ‘Winners’, while those who left a lot to be desired can be called ‘Losers’. It may sound harsh, but it is the crux of this exercise.

Let’s check in to see who fell on which side of the ledger after the latest game…

Winners

Najee Harris
Stat Line: 27 carries, 122 yards, 4.5 ave., 2 TDs, 23 yard long

There are a lot of fans who think Najee Harris is overrated and shouldn’t have been a team’s top pick in the NFL Draft. Nonetheless, Harris had one of his best games as a pro vs. Seattle. Harris was getting the tough yards, was physical and showed the type of play most would expect from a first round draft pick. Harris is nearing another 1,000 yards rushing, already over 1,000 total yards, and showed some unselfish play when he chose not score in the waning minutes of the game, rather allowing the Steelers to kneel out the clock. A heads up play for the Steelers running back.

Jaylen Warren
Stat Line: 13 carries, 75 yards, 5.8 ave., 1 TD, 23 yard long

Warren is the spark plug to Najee Harris’ battering ram, but don’t discredit Warren’s ability to impose his will on the opposition. Warren’s physical style, combined with his knack for the big play, make him a great ‘2’ in the Steelers ‘1-2 Punch’ backfield. Kudos to Warren on getting 1,000 scrimmage yards this season.

Mason Rudolph
Stat Line: 18/24, 274 yards, 11.4 ave., 0 TD, 0 INT, 1 sack for 8, 112.2 Rating

The Steelers might have some questions to answer this offseason at the quarterback position, but I don’t think they have any question who the quarterback is for the rest of the season. Rudolph didn’t light the world on fire in Seattle, but he did make plays when called upon. And the majority of those big-time throws came from the pocket. Rudolph isn’t a runner, but is willing to stand tall and make the plays necessary. That’s not only something worth noting, but something Steelers fans haven’t seen a lot of this season.

Nick Herbig
Stat Line: 1 tackle, 1 solo, 1 sack, 1 QB Hit, 1 FF, 1 FR

Nick Herbig doesn’t get a lot of snaps, and why would he? Are the Steelers going to take T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith off the field when they don’t need to? With limited opportunities, it is up to Herbig to make the most of those opportunities, and he did just that vs. Seattle. It took just one play for Herbig to get his lone tackle, lone sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Another Wisconsin Badger harassing quarterbacks? Sign me up…

George Pickens
Stat Line: 7 catches, 131 yards, 18.7 ave., 0 TD, 37 long, 9 targets

Is it as simple as “just throw him the ball”? The more I watch, the more I think it could be that simple. Pickens had another 100+ yard game, and looks as dominant as ever. A tremendous outing for the second year receiver.

Offensive Line
Stat Line: 46 carries, 202 yards, 4.4 ave., 3 TDs / 1 sack, 2 QB Hits

It had been a while since the Steelers had dominated the line of scrimmage. Since the offensive line got the push necessary to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. That’s exactly what the line did vs. Seattle, and it’s exactly what they should do against one of the worst run defenses in the league. We’ve all witnessed the Steelers go against a sub-par unit, and struggle to take advantage of the opponent’s weaknesses. That wasn’t the case in Week 17, and it all started up front with the big guys.

Secondary Contributors
Stat Line: Myles Jack/ Eric Rowe/ Chandon Sullivan

Sometimes I have to remind myself how this defense is being held together with some sticks, Elmer’s glue, and some duct tape. When you look at the laundry list of injured players, it’s really remarkable. Yet I still find myself getting frustrated with the play on the field, only to remind myself of the back-ups who are being tasked with starting roles. Those back-ups have been playing fantastic these past two games, and the Steelers have needed all of their contributions.

3rd Down Defense
Stat Line: SEA 3-for-9

You have to win on the critical downs. Mike Tomlin talks about that constantly in his press conferences, and the Steelers defense stood tall on those “weighty” downs. Pittsburgh’s defense held the Seahawks to just three conversions out of nine opportunities on third downs. If that isn’t a winning effort, I don’t know what is.

T.O.P. (Time Of Possession)
Stat Line: PIT – 37:33 / SEA – 22:27

Yes, you read that stat line correctly. The Steelers possessed the ball more than 15 minutes longer than the Seahawks. Just remarkable what an offense can do when the offensive line is paving the way, and the ground game is clicking on all cylinders.

Playoff Hopes 
Stat Line: There’s still a pulse

The Steelers’ playoff hopes are still alive. That’s all that needs to be said for me, yet there are many who would tell you the team is just going to get crushed if they make the playoffs. I don’t subscribe to that philosophy, rather just happy to see the Steelers get another meaningful football game. If the team makes the playoffs, I say bring it on!

Losers

Red-Zone Offense
Stat Line: 3-for-7

You got to the red-zone seven times, fantastic! However, when you only score 3 times off those trips, it’s rather deflating. Game situations and circumstances absolutely change things, but what separates the haves and the have nots in the NFL is the ability to convert. They had success on 3rd downs in this game, but struggled when the field got shorter. Some might say that’s nit-picking, but so be it.

If you want a more detailed look at the above list, check out my “Let’s Ride” podcast in the player below where I outline each Winner and Loser, and MORE!