Steelers' Mike Tomlin Has Lame Excuse For Not Considering Replacing Russell Wilson With Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended the 2024 regular season in brutal fashion as they lost the last four games of the year. Although the Steelers are in the playoffs and didn't have a chance to win the division with the Baltimore Ravens winning earlier on Saturday, it was important to still win for seeding purposes. A win heading into the playoffs would've also built some momentum after dropping the previous three games. All eyes were on the defense to see if it would perform better, but the offense can take a lot of blame for Saturday's loss.

Russell Wilson and the offense had yet another slow start and didn't get the ball moving until it was too late. The Cincinnati Bengals went up early on the Steelers, but Pittsburgh's defense didn't allow another touchdown after the Bengals' first drive. The Steelers had 193 total yards of offense, with Wilson only throwing for 148 yards.

It was hard not to think about putting Justin Fields in to create some sort of spark on the offense. Wilson took four sacks and continued to make poor judgements when throwing the ball. Fields can at least extend plays with his legs if nothing is there on the play. Head Coach Mike Tomlin was asked during his post game press conference if he ever considered putting in Fields during the game.

"Not really, no," Tomlin said. "Because our failures were collective and I just think at this juncture the most prudent thing for us to do was to stick with those that were on the field and work through it."

Tomlin made it clear at the beginning of the season that Wilson would be the starter once he got healthy. However, the situation got interesting when Fields led the team to a 4-2 start, his best outing in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts where he threw for 312 in the air and rushed for 55 yards.

There were many other problems on offense that can be blamed, like George Pickens dropping multiple passes, but Wilson isn't doing enough to get the offense moving. He showed flashes of prime Wilson during the Steelers' 6-1 stretch mid-season, throwing for 414 yards in Cincinnati in his previous matchup against the Bengals this season. It seems like that Wilson is long gone.

With no winning momentum going into the playoffs, there's a big chance Pittsburgh could go one-and-done in the playoffs yet again under Tomlin. His playoff record is the most critiqued part about him and it could become worse with how this team as been playing. Now, the Steelers will either have to travel to face the Houston Texans with a Los Angeles Chargers loss Sunday or their AFC North rival in Baltimore if the Chargers win.

Steelers Seriously Need To Think About Quarterback Decision For The 2025 Season

Both Wilson and Fields are on one year deals with the team, which leaves the Steelers' organization to make a big decision on who's being kept on the team. Wilson and Fields could both come back, but that would mean Wilson would likely start again. With how this season is ending, that idea doesn't seem like the best anymore.

There are things to still critique about Fields, but he's never truly sat behind a veteran for a season and learned under someone like he did this season with Wilson. At least with Fields, you get his running ability and his young age. It wouldn't hurt to go with him after Steeler Nation has seen what Wilson can do.

Wilson could completely change it up in the playoffs and prove everyone wrong to show that he deserves a big contract. It would be ideal to see a spark in this offense, but after losing four in a row it's a brutal blow to a team's confidence.

Do you think Tomlin should've put Fields back in or is it too late now? Let us know in the comments!

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