5 Things from Steelers-Lions

By: Donny Chedrick

Heading into the bye week the Steelers are 6-2 with first place aspirations in the AFC North as well as the AFC as a whole with a heavy primetime schedule up ahead after the week off. Sunday night was the first taste the Steelers had all season of the primetime spotlight and at moments they shined, especially the youngest guy on the field. Before we take the week off, we'll take a look into the win at Detroit.

1. JuJu shines

Photo creds to SI.Com

After all of the issues with Martavis Bryant over the past few weeks, JuJu Smith-Schuster continues to put those doubters to bed. An outstanding performance yet again, including a 97-yard touchdown catch and run. JuJu is becoming a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, and he's becoming a favorite around the entire NFL with his play and his playful sense of humor. Smith-Schuster led the Steelers with seven receptions for 193 yards and a score in the 20-15 win.

2. Bend, don't break defense

Photo creds to Weirton Daily Times

Lions' QB Matt Stafford threw for 423 yards on Sunday night but didn't manage to record a touchdown pass. Detroit had three receivers with 85 yards or more including Marvin Jones, T.J. Jones and Golden Tate. The Steelers did defend well against the run by allowing just 71 yards to the Lions on 22 attempts. Similar to what fans saw last year, the Steelers defense would allow a lot of yards but would play big when they had to, including a huge goalline stop with the Steelers up by just one point.

3. Steelers can win without ringing the Bell 

Photo creds to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Don't take this out of context because Le'Veon Bell is consistently a major part of the Steelers offense, but sometimes he can get away with not having an outstanding performance. After Bell struggled a few games early in the season, he quickly returned to the Lev Bell people were used to seeing a year ago. On Sunday night, Bell didn't have one of those huge games, but the Steelers didn't need him to. Bell ran the ball 25 times for 76 yards and a touchdown in Detroit. Knowing that the Steelers can win when Bell has, by his standards, an average game, will help the confidence of the offense down the road.

4. Another average day from Big Ben 

Photo creds to FanRag Sports

Ben Roethlisberger has been described by some in the Pittsburgh media as being "consistently inconsistent." And for what he's done the last few years, he has been. He's been average. On Sunday night, Roethlisberger was 17 of 31 with 317 yards, having a touchdown and a pick with a QBR of 58.1, but an average day got it done in the Steelers victory.

5. Coming out of the bye week healthy
 Going into the bye week, the Steelers have a few bumps and bruises to guys like Stephon Tuitt, Marcus Gilbert and Mike Mitchell. The bye week is a time when guys can get healthy, but also a time when players must stay focused. Following the bye week last season, the Steelers laid an egg in Baltimore, and that can't happen again this year with a true chance to put an absolute stranglehold on the AFC North in November.

6-2 is a great spot for the Steelers to be in as the season turns to the month of November. Pittsburgh has the lead in the AFC North and the AFC as a whole, which is something in past seasons that has not been the case.