The results of the game ball polling from the Steelers win over the Chiefs are in, and no Ph.D in advanced meta statistics are needed to interpret the results.
Le’Veon Bell dominated the Chiefs in the Steelers 2017 win at Arrowhead. Photo Credit: Steelers.com
As you can see, Le’Veon Bell was the run away favorite in the voting, followed by Antonio Brown.
Really, if you look at the quality of play of both Number 26 and Number 84 its hard to dispute the result. The fact that Ben Roethlisberger got shut out in the voting is perhaps a surprise, although your truly would like to believe that this reveals the sophistication of this site’s readership.
- Quarterbacks often get too much credit when a team wins, and too much blame when they lose.
Ben Roethlisberger DID play a better game against the Chiefs than he has played for much of the season thus far, but the fact remains that his still below par for a franchise quarterback. Ben Roethlisberger got extremely lucky on the touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, and he must bear some responsibility for the Steelers 3rd down struggles.
- Beyond that it was slim picking for the Steelers offense in the game ball poll.
JuJu Smith-Schuster found no love. Nor did Vance McDonald find any love. McDonald might have only made one catch, but it was his first as a Steeler, and a very important one at that. While the defense drew a number of write ins, only David DeCastro got a nod, although 5 other voters followed suit. Perhaps the entire offensive line deserved a ballot position, as the unit played its best game of the season.
- On defense, James Harrison was the top vote getter.
Its hard to argue against a game ball for Deboo, and yours truly is NOT inclined to do so. But we will argue that Vince Williams deserved more love, as he was a one-man wrecking crew until he left the game with an injury. Its also a bit surprising that Sean Davis found no love until the very last day of the poll, and then he only pulled down one vote.
Sean Davis had a phenomenal day and, all respect intended for the late game heroics of Cameron Heyward and James Harrison in bringing Alex Smith down, his play in the end zone was arguably the most important defensive play of the game.
- So allow us to toot our own horn in naming Sean Davis as the Unsung Hero of the game.
As always, Steel Curtain Rising thanks everyone who took out time to vote and/or submit their write-in choices.
