The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 5-2 on Sunday night after a strong victory over the New York Jets. Pittsburgh won the game by a score of 37-15 thanks to strong performances in all three phases of the game. The most talked about performance is Russell Wilson's, who looked great in his first start in the black and gold. The quarterback protected the football and led the offense to the highest point total of the 2024 season, which was impressive to see after the decision to start Wilson was highly questioned.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson hands the ball off to Najee Harris in his first start in Pittsburgh.
The decision to start Wilson was questioned by many in the national media. Justin Fields played well in the first six games of the season and led the team to a 4-2 record, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin still decided to start Wilson now that he had returned to full health.
Many believed Tomlin was out of his mind for benching Fields, but his decision was validated on Sunday night. Tomlin was asked if this was one of the boldest decisions of his career during his postgame press conference and his answer was short and sweet.
"That's why I'm well compensated." Tomlin stated.
Very rarely does Tomlin gloat about anything, but he is obviously extremely proud of himself for deciding to put Wilson in the starting role. Perhaps he was acting candid because of who asked the question - former All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall is a Pittsburgh native, and he also played with Wilson during the 2018 season with the Seattle Seahawks.
USA Today
Steelers' Mike Tomlin stands on the sideline with Russell Wilson during an away game.
Wilson played great in his debut with the Steelers as he threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns. The quarterback also ran in a score, and led the offense to its best performance of the season. The unit had its second 400-yard performance of the year, and the playbook seemed to open up with Wilson behind center.
The offense didn't look bad with Fields, but Wilson's experience and efficiency as a passer was on display Sunday night. He took more deep shots and got more play-makers involved, which is the mark of a good offense. Wilson and the offensive unit will look to build on their success in Week 8 as they prepare to take on the New York Giants on Monday Night Football.
Tomlin also spoke about Wilson's performance, calling it excellent. It seems like the keys to the offense are officially in Wilson's hands and he will be the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Pittsburgh probably has the most reliable backup quarterback in the league in Fields - if he is needed.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson and George Pickens celebrate after connecting on a touchdown in 2024.
Steelers Playmakers Shined With Russell Wilson At Quarterback
Throughout the first six games of the season, it seemed difficult for the offense to get key play-makers such as George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth involved. That wasn't an issue on Sunday night. Wilson connected with Pickens five times for 111 yards and a score, and Freiermuth recorded over 50 receiving yards in the victory.
Other aspects of Pittsburgh's offense looked better with Wilson at quarterback. The receivers behind Pickens were able to contribute as Van Jefferson caught a touchdown and Calvin Austin III hauled in a 36-yard pass to essentially seal the game. Even Darnell Washington managed to catch four balls in the win.
The running game looked better than it has all season long, as Pittsburgh rushed for 149 yards. Najee Harris had his second straight 100-yard performance and Jaylen Warren seemed back to his old self as he rushed for 44 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards. The offense is rolling after the dominant victory, and the group will look to carry its success into their matchup with the Giants in Week 8.
What did you think about Tomlin's statement? Were you initially on board with his decision to start Wilson over Fields? Let us know in the comments below!
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