Two games, two rather strong showings from Pittsburgh Steelers veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, who was inserted into the starting lineup in a bold move by head coach Mike Tomlin.
In those two games, the Steelers’ offense has looked quite good, and Wilson has turned back the clock a bit, playing some of his best football in recent seasons. His performance, coupled with standout special teams play and a great defense, has the Steelers looking like legitimate contenders.
It also has Wilson inside the top 20 of the latest NFL.com QB Index from analyst Nick Shook. Wilson landed at No. 18 for the second straight week and continues to draw praise for his performance level.
“Mike Tomlin made the right call by swapping out Justin Fields for Wilson. In two starts, the Steelers have finished with 400-plus yards, and much of it is directly related to Wilson’s ability to elevate their passing game,” Shook writes. “He’s established a great connection with George Pickens, which has opened up the rest of the offense, allowing Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson to get involved while creating opportunities for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren to contribute on the ground.
“Wilson threw a pretty touchdown pass to Austin, connected with Pickens four times for 74 yards and even overcame a late fumble to help the Steelers put away their latest win in primetime. As long as he avoids crucial mistakes, the Steelers are going to continue to improve with Wilson under center.”
It’s a small sample size at just two games, but there is no denying that Tomlin made the right decision turning to Wilson, even with Justin Fields having piloted the Steelers to a 4-2 record in Wilson’s absence as he recovered from a calf injury.
The move drew a lot of criticism, but once Wilson hit the field and performed the way he has, that criticism faded fast. Now much of the talk about the Steelers centers on them being a legitimate contender, especially if Wilson can continue to play at a high level and push the ball down the field in the passing game, opening things up for the run game and providing balance offensively.
Having gone over 400 yards of total offense in two straight games is rather telling, too. While Fields was doing just fine under center and was helping the Steelers win games, Wilson has unlocked a new level to the offense due to his tendency to push the ball down the field to open things up elsewhere.
As long as he avoids the mistakes and keeps the offense in rhythm and on schedule, the Steelers should only continue to improve, which should be a scary thought for every other team in the league.
