What Markus Wheaton's Big Week 1 Performance Means for Pittsburgh Steelers

After a near perfect first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers narrowly avoided a disastrous loss to open the season. It took a clutch reception by Markus Wheaton with just seconds remaining in the game to set up the game-winning field goal.

Wheaton’s 20-yard reception took the Steelers from the Cleveland Browns’ 44-yard line to the 24, which was well within Shaun Suisham’s range. It was just one of six receptions on seven targets by the second-year receiver. Not only did he match his reception total from his rookie season in this game, but also set a career high in receiving yards with 97.

	2013	2014
Receptions	6	6
Targets	13	7
Yards	64	97
Average	10.7	16.2
Long	21	40

Stats aside, it was the types of plays that Wheaton made that made his Week 1 performance so impressive.

Unlike Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, all of whom had great games, Wheaton came into the season as a relative unknown. He certainly wasn’t a player who anyone would expect to come up with the big catch in a critical moment of the game, but that is exactly what he did.

With under a minute to go in the game, Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense needed about 25 yards to get on the edge of Suisham’s range for a field goal. After a two-yard pass to Bell, Roethlisberger connected with Wheaton for an 11-yard gain and then a huge 20-yard gain.

"

Markus Wheaton w/ the HUGE catch. Roethlisberger spikes the ball w/ :05 left, Suisham attempts the 41yd FG for the win...

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 7, 2014"

Roethlisberger was impressed with the adjustment that Wheaton made on the final completion of the game, via Dale Grdnic of Behind the Steel Curtain:

"

It was an adjustment with about five seconds left on the play clock. We changed the play. To me, that's why we put the work in and why credit goes out to those guys. I know we laughed about the pizza and wings quiz and all that. That's where it comes from. We make an adjustment at the last minute, and no one blinks, no one flinches. They run the proper play, and we get into field-goal range. My hat goes off to Markus Wheaton for making the adjustment. I threw it before he came out of his break. He turned his head and found the ball and made a great catch. Kudos to him.

"

As good as this play was, it wasn’t even his best reception of the game.

Right after the Browns kicked a field goal to tie the game in the first quarter, the Steelers had a third down from their own 44-yard line when Roethlisberger decided to take a shot down field. Wheaton beat rookie Justin Gilbert and made a beautiful catch along the sidelines, dragging his toes in bounds.

"

Markus Wheaton announces his presence with authority with 40-yard catch on 3rd and 6. Drug both feet on sideline easily #Steelers

— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) September 7, 2014"

The 40-yard reception was the longest of his career and helped put the Steelers in position for their first touchdown of the season. Clutch receptions such as this and those at the end of the game are the types of plays that were missing last year when Emmanuel Sanders was the No. 2 receiver.

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Although it was just one performance, Wheaton is primed for a big season as the Steelers' second option at receiver. Roethlisberger was incredibly accurate when throwing to receivers, and Wheaton was a major part of that.

"

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was 15-of-17 for 251 yards and a TD targeting wide receivers Sunday

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 7, 2014"

Wheaton will continue to be one of Roethlisberger’s top targets as long as he continues to make plays when given the opportunity. His next big challenge will come on Thursday when the Steelers travel to Baltimore for a prime-time game against their biggest rival.

Baltimore’s defense will likely look to stop Brown and Bell after their big games, meaning that Wheaton will be one of the go-to options for Roethlisberger. He has not shown to be the same type of threat that Brown is in the short passing game but instead is dangerous as an intermediate and deep threat.

Wheaton got behind Cleveland’s defensive backs twice and had one reception—Roethlisberger overthrew him on the second attempt. He can also work the middle or the sidelines on intermediate routes, especially if Baltimore crowds the line to stop short passes heading toward Brown or Bell.

Beyond this week, Wheaton will continue to find space as opponents focus their attention on Brown. As long as he continues to produce, defenses will eventually have to focus on him as well, which is why he was my X-factor for the season.

Wheaton may not put up these types of stats every week, but he doesn’t need to. He just needs to complement Brown as the No. 2 receiver, and that is exactly what he proved in the opener. As long as he can continue in this role, the Steelers offense will be in terrific shape moving forward.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of ESPN.com and all roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.  

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