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(AP Photo / Morry Gash)
WR Randall Cobb: He turned into a third down machine, covering four different opportunities with big catches. Two came on the first scoring record. Another was his 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Cobb looked explosive off the ball and quick in and out of the breaks. He caught one of Aaron Rodgers’ best shots of the season on a 25-yard in-breaker. Rodgers has such a good idea of where Cobb will be, even in a new attack, and he’s an unstoppable quarterback when he throws in time with confidence.
RT Billy Turner: For much of the first half and even into the second half he was tasked with blocking All-Pro TJ Watt. The boxscore indicates that Watt had a bag, but this was an obvious triggering incident. With the right penalty called and without Rodgers’ downfall at the end of the fourth quarter, Watt would have been shut out. Melvin Ingram, who was working on left tackle Yosh Nijman, had a lot more of an impact on the game. Turner is the veteran of the offensive line and he played like that on Sunday. Neutralizing Watt has been a big part of the Packers’ success on offense.
RB AJ Dillon: His 16 touches have gained 97 yards. The Packers gave him the ball early and often, even in the passing game. His 16-yard catch got the ball rolling on the first touchdown. Later, his 25-yard burst set another score. He just rumbles through arm tackles. The Packers fed him four times in a row to start a practice in the fourth quarter, and he made his way up to 20 yards. It will be fun to see the Packers use it late in cold weather games at Lambeau Field.
RB Aaron Jones: He had to really work to reach 48 rushing yards, but his 15-yard first-half run was, at the time, an offensive season. His biggest games have come in the passing game. He ran for 19 yards to help set up the field goal before half-time, and a 26-yard catch on a well-planned play set up another field goal on the first possession of the second half. He quietly led the team with 99 total yards.
LB De’Vondre Campbell: He again led the team in tackles, this time with nine, and once again made impact plays. He had one of the Packers quarterback’s five hits and one of the Packers’ four pass breakouts. He stabbed inside a block and helped stop Najee Harris after a two-yard run. He later reunited with Diontae Johnson after a short winless take. His biggest game could have been to stuff JuJu Smith-Schuster in fourth position well ahead of the sticks. His fight in space was formidable.
DL Kingsley Keke: His work was indescribable against the run, but Keke made an impact as a rusher. He propelled Trai Turner into the backfield and stripped Ben Roethlisberger to create a first-half turnover. Later in the game, he again used the power to beat Turner and put pressure on the Steelers quarterback. The Packers need him to affect matches as an inside rusher. He finally showed signs of life on Sunday.
OLB Rashan Gary: His Roethlisberger bag was a perfect example of his true power as a rusher. He crossed left tackle Dan Moore and tackled Roethlisberger in the pocket as Moore tried to hold down the failing block. Gary also hit Roethlisberger on a pass rush, and he’s always established a solid advantage in the running game. He set the tone early with a tip about Benny Snell in game three of the game.
DL Kenny Clark: About once per game, Clark hits the center and does a trick in the backfield of a running back. He had another – this time for a two-yard loss – on Sunday. He also combined with others to do two more running tricks, and his pressure / hit on Roethlisberger forced a quick pitch on the defense’s second save in fourth. His salvage escape completed the first takeaway.
P Corey Bojorquez: His first two kicks were almost perfect. The first was shot by Malik Taylor on the 4-yard line, rewarding Matt LaFleur’s decision to kick the 40-yard line. His second was a booming punt that traveled 57 yards through the air and forced a good catch. He was shooting from his own end zone, but backed the Steelers to the 37-yard line. He’s an elite punt.
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