Russell WilsonNick Cammett/Getty Images
Thursday’s loss in Cleveland is hardly crippling for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they are still one up on the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North with a head-to-head win.
It’s hardly time to hit the panic button, and they could still make it all the way to New Orleans and Super Bowl LIX.
But they probably won’t—and the reasons why were on display Thursday night.
When Russell Wilson first took the reins at quarterback, he appeared to unlock a new dimension in the Pittsburgh offense. As more time has passes, though, it’s becoming evident that he has limitations just like Justin Fields. They just aren’t the same ones.
Fields isn’t an especially accurate passer, while Wilson’s arm talent isn’t what it was. That Pittsburgh is playing both now creates a headache for opposing defenses. But, as John Madden (allegedly) once said, “If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.”
The Steelers most assuredly don’t have Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert or C.J. Stroud.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line is better than it was the past few years, but better doesn’t mean it’s good.
Wilson will be seeing Myles Garrett in his nightmares for some time, while Pittsburgh’s run game took Week 5 off. Had Fields not had a 30-yard-run, the team wouldn’t even have hit the mediocre 3.5 yards per carry it did.
And again, the Steelers offense repeatedly sputtered in opposing territory. Get inside the opposing 40-yard line, and it has crumbled time and again this season.
Mike Tomlin’s streak of winning seasons is safe, and Pittsburgh will all but certainly make the playoffs. But its last win in the postseason was in 2016 (well, early 2017), and that streak may well carry over into 2025.
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