Steelers' Justin Fields Gives Pittsburgh An Exciting Look At What Could Be After Rollercoaster Preseason Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills with plenty of excitement on Saturday. Fans were eager to see Russell Wilson, the new quarterback, in action. Wilson was slated for a couple of series, marking the first time Steelers fans would see him live. He completed eight of 10 passes for 47 yards, but faced a challenging start, getting sacked three times as the offense struggled.

In the second quarter, down by three points with two minutes left in the half, Justin Fields took over. His initial drive fell short, as he threw a pass behind the sticks, leading to a quick three-and-out. However, Fields soon found his rhythm, making a series of short completions, starting with a five-yard pass to Connor Heyward and then connecting with Scotty Miller.

As time was running down in the second half, Fields took off for 20 yards but didn’t manage to get out of bounds. This exciting play showcased his potential as a dynamic runner, giving Steeler Nation a glimpse of what he can bring to the offense. With the ball on the 30-yard line and 12 seconds remaining, Fields delivered a precise sideline pass to Miller. This set up Chris Boswell for a 43-yard field goal, which he successfully converted, tying the game 3-3 at halftime.

Fields’ third drive was also promising, though it ended on a sour note. He displayed his mobility by rushing for eight yards on two separate plays, keeping the chains moving. On one play, he evaded pressure from the Bills' front seven, rolling out and finding tight end MyCole Pruitt. He later connected with Heyward for another first down.

However, the drive faltered in the final moments. Fields ran out of options on one play, scrambling for a modest two-yard gain. On fourth down, the Steelers attempted a read option with Fields, but he couldn’t evade the defense and lost eight yards, resulting in a stalled drive and no points for Pittsburgh.

On Fields' fourth drive, he re-entered the game trailing 9-3. On his first play, he connected with Dez Fitzpatrick for a 12-yard gain. He then aimed a deep pass for TJ Luther, but Luther jumped a bit early and Fields overthrew the ball slightly. Then Fields escaped pressure and completed a wild pass. 

The fourth drive stalled when Fields failed to connect with Heyward. He got another chance to go win the game on his fifth drive, but quickly failed to get a first down. Fields had a lot of chances, but didn't get anything done in the big moments. That is an area of slight concern from his otherwise exciting showing. He finished the game 11 for 17 with 92 passing yards and 42 rushing yards.

Steelers' Justin Fields Continues To Turn Heads With Impressive Play

While it wasn’t a standout performance for Wilson, it’s important to remember that it's preseason, and fans should avoid overreacting. This game likely won’t significantly impact the quarterback battle, although some fans might feel otherwise.

Fields, however, demonstrated that the offense could be quite exciting with him at the helm. He looked composed, kept the offense moving, and showed the ability to sustain drives against the Bills. Both Wilson and Fields had trouble scoring points.

#SteelerNation