DEANGELO WILLIAMS
Running Back

CINCINNATI – In each of the two previous games against the Bengals, the Steelers lost running back Le'Veon Bell to injury. Last year, the Steelers suffered because LeGarrette Blount had quit on the team a few weeks earlier and left them without a viable option. This year, the Steelers have DeAngelo Williams, and he came through for them in a critical game against the Bengals today.

In a game judged to be close to a must win if the Steelers are to qualify for the playoffs, Williams was a big part of the offense's success by scoring the only two offensive touchdowns the Steelers managed in their 33-20 victory over the Bengals, a win that raised their record to 8-5 and kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff competition.

Williams finished with 76 yards on 23 carries, and he scored both of his touchdowns on 1-yard runs.

Williams also caught a couple of passes for 15 more yards to finish with 91 yards from scrimmage, the most by any of the team's running backs or receivers.

Williams is the Steelers Digest Player of the Week.

Also considered were Heath Miller, who finished as the team's leading receiver with 10 catches for 66 yards, with four of those receptions converting third downs, and he also was an important part of the blocking for Williams and the running attack. It marked Miller's third 10-catch game of his Steelers career.

Others in the running were William Gay, who had two tackles and a pick-six that upped the Steelers lead to 23-7 early in the second half; Will Allen, who had five tackles and a sack; Robert Golden, who had two tackles and an interception in limited playing time; Cam Heyward, who finished with two tackles and a sack; Stephon Tuitt, who had two tackles and an interception on Cincinnati's first offensive possession after the Bengals had attained a first-and-goal; Antonio Brown, who caught seven passes for 87 yards; and Chris Boswell, who made four field goals and had five of his eight kickoffs go for touchbacks.