Who gets the game ball for the Steelers 23-16 win over the Bills in Week 1?

The Pittsburgh Steelers started off the 2021 season with an impressive seven-point road victory in Buffalo over the Bills. After being placed in the underdog role, there were a number of Steelers players who stepped up and helped lead this team to victory.

But who gets the game ball?

Each game of the NFL season, I will set forth nominations to receive the BTSC game ball. It does not necessarily have to be the best player on the field, but who really stepped up their game this particular week. After the case is been made, you all decide which player takes home the honor.

Since there is no previous week to go on, we can’t highlight last week’s winner just yet. But in weeks to come, that will be done here as well in addition to a list of previous winners.

So here are the nominations in no particular order:

Diontae Johnson

Hauling in the only offensive touchdown in the game with an acrobatic catch, Diontae Johnson finished the game with five receptions for 36 yards on 10 targets.

Cam Heyward

The Steelers defensive captain was disrupting the Bills offense all day. Cam Hayward put up four tackles, 1.0 sack, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. It was quite the statistical list to start the season.

T.J. Watt

Despite not having any contact in practice until this week, the NFL‘s newly highest paid defensive player appeared to be in midseason form. T.J. Watt had three tackles and 2.0 sacks with one tackle for loss, five quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. All this was done despite being held most of the game.

Cam Sutton

The player the Steelers decided to retain in the secondary for the 2021 season, Cameron Sutton made some noise in the first game of what is projected to be a full season of starting on the Steelers defense. Credited with five tackles, two of which were for loss, and to pass defensed, Sutton was the player in coverage during the Bills touchdown even though he did a very good job on the play. Not only did Sutton make his presence known in the secondary, he also had the key tackle for loss on fourth down.

Tre Norwood

Officially getting a start as he was on the field for the Steelers first defensive snap, the 2021 seventh-round draft pick finished with five tackles on the day. Most importantly, with fans uncertain as to how the Steelers would deploy players at the slot cornerback position, Norwood held his own in his first NFL game.

So what do you think? Who deserves the game ball for the Steelers this week? Make sure you vote in the poll as this is how the winner will be determined. And of course, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.