Russell WilsonNick Cammett/Getty Images
Thursday’s loss in Cleveland is hardly crippling for the Steelers—Pittsburgh is 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. The Steelers could make it all the way to New Orleans and Super Bowl XLIX.
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 Pittsburgh’s offense. But as more time has passed, it’s becoming evident that Wilson has limitations just like Justin Fields. They just aren’t the same ones.
Fields isn’t an especially accurate passer. 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 have none.”
The Steelers most assuredly don’t have Josh Allen. Or Patrick Mahomes. Or Lamar Jackson. Or 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 a 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 a carry it did.
And yet again, Pittsburgh’s offense repeatedly sputtered in opposing territory. Get inside the opposing 40-yard-line, and the Steelers have crumbled time and again this season.
Mike Tomlin’s streak of winning seasons is safe. Pittsburgh will all but certainly make the playoffs.
But Pittsburgh’s last win in the postseason was in 2016 (Well, early 2017).
And that streak may well carry over into 2025.
