PITTSBURGH — Two series into Russell Wilson’s first start as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, a small smattering of boos rained down at Acrisure Stadium.
After Wilson’s promising opening drive fizzled in field goal range, the Steelers went three-and-out on their second series. The next drive, those boos grew after another three-and-out. The following series, a third consecutive three-and-out prompted even more discontent from the crowd.
At that point, a small chant began to reverberate through the stadium, “JUSTIN. FIELDS. JUSTIN. FIELDS.”
When Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made the somewhat bold decision this week to turn away from Fields amid a 4-2 start to the season, he was putting his faith in a 35-year-old QB who was coming off of two turbulent seasons in Denver. Maybe the change would spark the offense to reach another level? Maybe the offense would unravel behind Wilson and so too would the Steelers’ season?
No one knew exactly how it would play out. The only certainty was that the decision would be heavily scrutinized.
“I wear the decision,” Tomlin said Friday when asked about a possible change, putting the responsibility squarely on his own shoulders.
In Wilson’s injury absence, Justin Fields was playing his best football as a pro. Given he’s just 25 years old, flashed a dynamic element on the ground and was improving as a passer, many in Pittsburgh had already bought into the former Bear as the future behind center and were resistant to a shakeup behind center. Through an uneven first quarter, it appeared Tomlin’s pivot to Wilson might backfire, as Wilson completed just two passes in the first quarter.
“I felt like it was playoff baseball in the sense that I started off 0-for-2, but felt like I was going to get hot,” Wilsons said. “I kept telling coach (Tomlin), I’m going to get hot here. Sure enough, we did.”
Tomlin stayed the course — and ultimately was vindicated.
A game that began with questions at quarterback and a palpable tension in the stadium ended with Najee Harris jumping into the stands to celebrate a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. Wilson completed 16 of 29 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown on a QB sneak to help the Steelers improve to 5-2.
In doing so, Wilson fulfilled the faith of his coach. For the first time in weeks, there will be no question about which quarterback will or should start next week. It’s Wilson’s job until something fundamentally changes.
“I thought (Wilson) was excellent,” Tomlin said. “I thought he got better as the game went on. But I’m not surprised by that. It’s been a while since he’s played some ball. But I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off and distributed the ball around.”
In his first start as a Steeler, Wilson was a leading catalyst for an offense that scored 31 unanswered points. In many ways, the offense clicked on a level it hasn’t in some time, showing balance and an ability to showcase key playmakers.
Wilson spread the ball to six pass catchers, showing a level of comfort that comes from a quarterback with Super Bowl experience and 13 NFL seasons on his resume. Receiver Van Jefferson scored his first touchdown as a Steeler. Tight end Darnell Washington showed he can be more than just a blocker. Pat Freiermuth racked up plenty of yards after the catch.
But no one benefited more from the QB change than receiver George Pickens.
Wilson said that following Pickens’ game two weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys, when his frustration bubbled over on several instances, the quarterback sat down with the receiver to help keep him engaged. On Sunday, their two skill sets proved to be a stylistic match. With Wilson bringing his trademark moon ball and Pickens’ Madden-like catch radius, the third-year receiver burst out with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
“George is so talented,” Wilson said. “He makes it easy on the quarterback. He knows how to get open. He knows how to make plays. His ability to make contested catches is remarkable.”
To put the performance in perspective, Pickens was often guarded in man coverage by standout corner Sauce Gardner. He anchors a secondary that — while missing several key defensive backs — was limiting opponents to the second-fewest receiving yards per game (148.8). Rather than shy away from that matchup, the Steelers took their chances. And won.
“They played a lot of man-on-man situations,” Pickens said. “When you get those situations, you’ve got to most definitely capitalize.”
With time winding down in the first half and the Steelers trailing 15-6, it appeared Pittsburgh was in another one of its classic, low-scoring rock fights. But when undrafted rookie defensive back Beanie Bishop recognized a play he had seen the Green Bay Packers run for Davante Adams on film, he jumped the route and intercepted Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers’ offense capitalized on the miscue by driving 54 yards in four plays and 48 seconds. Wilson capped the drive when he connected with Pickens on a fade into the right corner of the end zone.
“Throwing that first touchdown to George,” Wilson said. “That was the moment I was like, there’s going to be a lot more of these.”
The late score at the end of the first half pulled the Steelers within two points and shifted the momentum in their favor. From there, the offense found another gear in the second half.
The balance that has sometimes eluded the Steelers emerged. Pittsburgh’s ground game opened up in the second half, as Harris eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second consecutive game with 102 yards.
With the Steelers leading 16-15 in the middle of the third quarter, Bishop again turned the tide when he intercepted Rodgers for a second time. This time, he returned it to the 1-yard line to set up Wilson for the QB sneak to put the Steelers ahead 23-15.
From there, the Steelers rolled.
“This is the most efficient that (we’ve been), in my years being here,” said Harris, who is in his fourth season. “Usually we turn it around later in the season. But to happen so early and to have this momentum going, I think that’s a sign of what’s to come in the future.”
That sense of optimism was felt throughout Pittsburgh’s sideline.
For years, the Steelers have scratched and clawed to a winning record with a familiar formula. Often, the defense dominates or at a minimum produces the timely, game-turning splash play. And offensively, the Steelers have often done just enough to eek out wins. Truth be told, the Steelers have won countless games in the post-Ben Roethlisberger era in spite of the offense.
After the way the second half unfolded, there’s a reason to believe that this offense can reach another level — and that Wilson can help be part of that change.
“I feel like we have this young offense, young players that are so talented and we’re just right on that edge of getting really good and being great,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to keep searching for that edge.”
While it’s just one game against a dysfunctional Jets team, this game can be a springboard. If the Steelers continue to play defense at the same level they have for most of the season, run the ball with the efficiency they have the last two games and then get the needed jolt from the quarterback, perhaps this can be a team that makes noise in January.
“Part of my job, I believe, sitting here in 13 years in the game is to make sure that I take guys to that edge and understand that we’ve got to go there and we can’t wait,” Wilson said. “That’s the biggest thing right now is there’s a lot more room that we can grow and we’re going to go for it.”
After Sunday, there should be no question about which quarterback is the starter. The new question is: How far can the veteran QB can take them?
(Top photo of George Pickens and Russell Wilson: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
