It’s wild that it took us all the way until Week 11 for the first divisional game for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, but after nine games on the ledger, a date with the Baltimore Ravens finally broke that streak. And it lived up to the name of AFC North football.

By that, I mean of course the name of defensive, ugly, smash-mouth football. It lived up to that name.

But as has often been the case in recent years, the Steelers were able to squeak one out, winning 18-16. It was their eighth win out of the last nine times these two have met, and the latest in a string of one-score games to decide the winner.

Let’s get into this, I have some thoughts:

1: Chris Boswell Is The Team MVP

Even with a Steelers team that has massively improved their offense from last season. Even with a Steelers team that has gotten out to an 8-2 record. Chris Boswell remains the team’s most valuable players.

Last week I talked about Boswell getting a bit of a day off, with him only trotting on the field for extra point attempts for the Steelers. No such relaxing for Boswell today.

Boswell made NFL history in this game, becoming the first kicker to successfully make 6+ field goals in 3 different regular season games. Twice he has done that this year, and in both times he was responsible for all 18 of Pittsburgh’s points.

Boswell’s performance today also came at the expense of longtime great Justin Tucker, whose two missed field goals for the Ravens loomed large in Baltimore’s loss.

For years, Tucker held the mantle as the best kicker in the NFL. He was a lock from virtually anywhere on the field to square that ball through the uprights. We saw Boswell take that title away from him today.

The Steelers should count their lucky stars every night that they have someone as reliable as Boswell for days like this, when their offense was allergic to the endzone.

2: We Need The Justin Fields Package More

Since the day Russell Wilson took over at quarterback, both the pro-Fields camp and those like me who love unconventional ways to use players have been wondering if the Steelers would deploy Fields with Wilson now the starter.

Fields’ strength over the veteran Wilson has always been his legs. Even when Wilson is at the top of his game, Fields’ legs allow him to move around the field in a way that Wilson, at 35 and with a bad calf, simply can’t.

Yesterday, the Steelers finally broke out a few plays for Fields, showing that they were at least open to actually trying the idea out in an in-game scenario. Fields took 3 snaps for the Steelers, running the ball twice and netting a total of 17 yards.

Fields found holes in the running game both times, and the threat of him taking off and running kept the Ravens defense honest, which allowed Najee Harris to run for the game-sealing first down for Pittsburgh.

The Steelers need to get Fields more involved, and should really explore using him in the red zone, where Wilson has struggled to finish drives. Wilson threw a pick in the endzone (something we will talk about more) and failed to get a touchdown in 4 trips there, something that is not sustainable.

3: The Wilson Interception

This game seemed as comfortably in hand as one could be for a Steelers-Ravens game. The Steelers were leading 15-10, and were destined to put up at least three more, but that all changed when Wilson was picked off in the endzone by Marlon Humphrey.

Ultimately, it didn’t mater. Payton Wilson made possibly the play of the year to literally steal the ball away, and Pittsburgh eventually tacked on that field goal that stood as the difference-maker.

But this play is still worthy of some discussion, as it leads to a larger topic about Wilson’s red zone struggles in this game.

The throw was in the vicinity of tight end Darnell Washington, who watched as it went over his head and into the hands of Humphrey. I think if Washington uses that 6′ 7 frame of his to try and make a play for it, he still doesn’t come down with the catch but he does disrupt the pass and make it fall incomplete.

Washington didn’t do that, and that’s an error. But what is also an error is this pass by Wilson altogether. He lobbed a lollipop like that into the endzone, marking the one time he decided not to throw it away when danger came his way.

I think both are at fault, but I’m just happy that it ended up not being the difference.

4: Showing Some Love For Ben Skowronek

The Steelers had wide receiver Ben Skowronek working overtime yesterday. The blocking wideout was a constant presence on the field, both on offense and on special teams under cult hero Danny Smith.

He did catch a pass for a modest 4-yard gain, but in his larger role as a blocker and special teammer, I was impressed with what Skowronek was able to do. He drew a pair of flags, which was key in backing up Baltimore before their possessions even began, and helped the Steelers in the field position battle, always pivotal in AFC North matchups.

Oddly enough, Skowronek had more catches than Pittsburgh’s Mike Williams and Baltimore’s Diontae Johnson. Really makes you think, doesn’t it? Maybe that guy with the Skowronek jersey wasn’t so crazy after all.

5: Where Is Mike Williams?

After only seeing 9 offensive snaps in his Steelers debut last Sunday in Washington, I was excited foe what he could do with a full week of prep in Arthur Smith’s offense.

I penned a column over at The Pitt News on how Williams, after catching the game-winning touchdown over the Commanders, was about to kick off his revenge tour after his failed tenure with the New York Jets.

As it turns out, that tour will have to be on hold for at least one week. Williams was used just as sparingly yesterday, and did not receive a target in this game. With a short week looming for the Steelers, I doubt that Williams will be able to get all that more involved with just three off days, which is a shame.

The point of acquiring Williams was so that a player like Van Jefferson, who was targeted once and had the pass go right through his hands, could see the field less.