Steelers' Russell Wilson On The Right Side Of Exciting Matchup Against Commanders Head Coach Dan Quinn

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin made the surprising decision to start quarterback Russell Wilson over the winning Justin Fields. Tomlin gave Wilson "pole position" when the Steelers first signed him, but unfortunately, he was injured early in camp. This gave Fields a shot at leading the team for the first six weeks of the season, and he performed admirably, taking the team to 4-2. 

Once Wilson was healthy, most analysts and fans believed that Tomlin would continue to roll with the hot hand in Fields. He wouldn't take a chance that they would lose or that Fields' confidence would be damaged. However, he did exactly that, and Wilson has been even better than most hoped. 

After a slow start during his initial outing in Week 7, Wilson picked up speed and has performed better and better each quarter. He led Pittsburgh to two wins in a row, both over teams considered to have better defenses than what they had played to that point. However, now the real test begins.

The second half of the Steelers' schedule has been discussed constantly since it was released during the offseason. It has been graded as the toughest in the entire league. The Steelers play all their division games, and the AFC North was expected to be one of the hardest in the NFL in 2024. They also face the Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Commanders and their rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, come first as the Steelers travel to the Nation's Capital for Week 10. The last time the Steelers played the Commanders was in 2020, and a lot has changed on both teams in nearly four years. However, one very familiar relationship is that of Wilson and Washington Head Coach Dan Quinn. 

On a recent episode of ESPN's Good Morning Football, Kyle Brandt said he believes that matchup will be interesting to watch. Quinn was a defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks when Wilson was with them. Together, the two helped mastermind a win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Since Quinn left Seattle, the two have matched up against each other. 

"Another fun side story of this, Dan Quinn versus Russell Wilson," Brandt shared. "Going back to their Seattle days, spent a lot of time together. Dan was running the defense under Pete [Carroll] when Russ was in his prime and a superstar. They have faced off several times before when Dan left to Atlanta. Russell Wilson going against the Dan Quinn defense, and Russ has done extremely well, 3-1, with almost no mistakes whatsoever. A lot of history. If you love football, you know they spent a lot of time together."

Daniels and the Commanders have been on fire this season. While expectations are always high for a player drafted second overall, as Daniels was, the Commanders are typically such an organizational mess that they have surprised most of the league. They are currently 7-2 at the top of the NFC East. He will present a formidable challenge along with receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. 

However, Wilson is not only playing well; he is playing with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. The Commanders' defense has improved as the season has gone on, and the addition of cornerback Marshon Lattimore could add another wrinkle. 

Steelers Have A Second Interesting Matchup

Brandt also sees another interesting matchup in the Steelers—Commanders game: McLaurin and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. He said that McLaurin has been Daniels' top target and has been playing well. However, Porter lives for these big-time battles. 

Brandt said Porter has done well against many of those big names, including Drake London, Courtland Sutton, Malik Nabers, and CeeDee Lamb. He added that the Steelers' secondary has really stepped up as the season continues. He credits them as part of why they are currently 6-2. 

How do you think the Steelers will fare against the Commanders? Click to comment below. 

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