There was a time not long ago it used to be about players like Rashard Mendenhall, Ike Taylor and Antonio Brown. The former back-ups outshined their respective position leaders in the Steelers' 24-20 win over the Giants in Week 9, and it wasn't even close.
This game could have had a lot of additions to the Winners section and really not very many losers. The Steelers were the dominant team in all three phases of the game, and are starting to pick up some serious momentum.
Winners
Isaac Redman - Not enough can be said for Redman's performance. Career highs in yards (147) and carries (26) in the regular season, in wake of a fierce Giants pass rush and the absence of a key receiver, Antonio Brown, Redman put the team on his back in the second half.
Keenan Lewis - the target of early scrutiny by the Giants (and the officials), Lewis played his best all around game of the season, and is clearly becoming an emerging stud on the defensive side of the ball. He was part of a secondary that held the Giants passing attack in check all game - they allowed 114 passing yards and 182 yards overall.
Emmanuel Sanders - Stepping in for Brown and running back/kick returner Chris Rainey, Sanders had a huge catch on third-and-nine to keep the chains moving for the Steelers, as well as a 63 yard punt return that set up a close field goal opportunity.
Mike Wallace - Fringing on the Loser category after a drop in the second half, Wallace made up for it with a huge catch-and-run for six points from 51 yards out. It was the exact play the Steelers needed, and perhaps the only splash play either offense made the entire game.
Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley - We're putting them both on the list for two huge sacks - both coming on third down plays in the fourth quarter. They were the exclamation point the Steelers plastered on three consecutive three-and-out series by the Giants.
Losers
Max Starks and Mike Adams - It's hard to savage anyone too much after such a tough game, and we recognize Starks and Adams had the toughest assignments of the day, but Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger appeared tentative at the end of the game largely due to the pressure allowed off the edge.