Ben Roethlisberger has won just one team MVP award, that coming in 2009.
Despite leading the league in passing yards and setting a team record for touchdown passes with one game remaining in the regular season, Roethlisberger will have to wait another year to try to add a second team MVP award to his resumé.
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was voted the team MVP in a vote by his teammates Thursday, winning the award for the first time.
"It's awesome," Smith-Schuster said. "I never thought I would be where I'm at in year two. It's great that I'm where I'm at today. Thanks to my teammates."
Smith-Schuster, 22, is certainly a deserving candidate. He leads the AFC with 106 receptions, is fourth in the NFL with 1,389 receiving yards to go along with six touchdown catches in just his second season. He also has eight 100-yard receiving games, third-most by any NFL player through Week 16 and the second-most by a Steeler in a single season in team history.
"Very consistent," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said of Smith-Schuster's season. "He's battled though some injuries, on again, off again all year. He's learned how to be a pro. I think his teammates realize that about him. And you know he's brought a lot of energy to our group."
But his numbers aren't that much better than those of Antonio Brown, who has 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and an NFL-best 15 touchdown catches. Brown also consistently draws double teams and/or the opposing team's best cornerback, leaving Smith-Schuster with lesser coverage, something the second-year receiver admitted a couple of weeks ago.
"He means a lot," Smith-Schuster said of Brown. "Without him, I probably wouldn't be where I'm at. He's taking a lot of the double teams, a lot of the best corners are always on AB and I'm able to make certain plays. A lot of guys are, too. It opens up the door a lot."
Fichtner agreed.
"There's a lot of truth (to that)," Fichtner said. "He pulls a lot of coverage. That's where the other receivers have to carry their load, and he was able to do that."
Roethlisberger is having one of his best seasons, leading the league with 4,842 yards, leaving him 110 short of his team record set in 2014. His 33 touchdown passes are already a team record and are tied for fourth in the league.
Last week, with the season on the line, Roethlisberger had perhaps his best game, throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers lost the game, 31-28, losing a pair of fourth quarter fumbles, one each by Stevan Ridley and Smith-Schuster.
"I think what gets missed sometimes ... you just don’t have the wins and that gives you that bad-gut feeling, but he’s actually made a lot of good throws," Fichtner said. "He’s probably played some of his best football in the past couple of weeks. I think there isn’t any time he wouldn’t like to have a pass or two back."
Smith-Schuster said he was "surprised" he won the award over Roethlisberger and Brown. He voted for cornerback Joe Haden.
"I didn't think it was going to be me," Smith-Schuster admitted. "You look at the numbers they've put up, it's always one of those guys. I was surprised."
The quarterback also has taken a more active role in play-calling after the team changed offensive coordinators in the offseason, moving on from Todd Haley and promoting Fichtner to the position. It's led to more interceptions -- a league-high 15 -- but he's also thrown more passes than anyone else.
His 432 completions also are a league-high. Roethlisberger's interception percentage of 2.4 for every 100 pass attempts is his lowest since 2014 and tied for the third-lowest of his career.
"We’ve asked him to take responsibility of throwing the ball," Fichtner said. "With that, you’re probably going to have a turnover or two. We’re throwing it a lot. But he’s gotten a lot of first downs and the opportunity to put a lot of points on the board. I think it’s been really solid, and last week was maybe his finest hour. He was really good."
The Steelers rank fourth in the NFL in total offense and points per game.
Smith-Schuster has 164 receptions in his first two seasons for 2,306 yards and 13 touchdowns. That's the most by a player in NFL history before turning 23 years old.