All week, some had questioned and outright disagreed with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin inserting Russell Wilson as the team’s starting quarterback and benching Justin Fields.
And when Wilson started Sunday’s game slow against the Jets, some boos and even chants for Fields could be heard at Acrisure Stadium.
“I really believe in being neutral,” Wilson said. “Not being too high, not being too low.”
Wilson eventually won the crowd over and perhaps made Tomlin’s decision look sound by throwing for 264 yards and tallying three total touchdowns to rally for a 37-15 win over the Jets on “Sunday Night Football.” Wilson completed 16-of-29 passes, consistently challenging the Jets with downfield throws.
“I felt like it was playoff baseball,” Wilson said. “Started off 0-for-2 but felt like I was going to get hot. I kept telling coach, ‘Hey, I’m going to get hot here’ and sure enough we did. The guys did a tremendous job up front giving me enough time to make throws, guys made plays down the field and everything else.”
Wilson is attempting to revive his career after his tenures with the Seahawks and Broncos ended unceremoniously and Sunday marked a solid first step.
There had been plenty who believed the Steelers should have stayed with Fields after he led the team to a 4-2 start and avoided turnovers, but Tomlin reportedly went “long ranger” and opted for Wilson.
While Fields is one of the NFL’s elite running quarterbacks, he is not a great thrower. Wilson, while far removed from his Super Bowl-winning days, provides an upgrade in that category.
The Steelers tallied just two field goals on their first six possessions — and Wilson started 0-for-2, as he mentioned multiple times after the game — but Wilson’s night changed after this defense intercepted Aaron Rodgers for the first time late in the first half with the Jets ahead, 15-6.
Wilson orchestrated a four-play, 54-yard scoring drive — aided by a 29-yard pass interference call on Sauce Gardner — that culminated with an 11-yard touchdown strike to George Pickens with 27 seconds remaining in the half.
“I was like, ‘There’s going to be a lot more of these I believe,’” Wilson said, per ESPN.
The Steelers then scored on all four of their second-half drives, with Wilson sneaking for a one-yard score to make it 23-15 before later finding Van Jefferson from four yards out to go ahead, 30-15.
Wilson will have the chance to beat both New York teams in consecutive weeks when the Steelers host the Giants on “Monday Night Football” in Week 8.
“Being my first home here and everything else, it was special,” Wilson said on the broadcast. “We’re capable of a lot together. I think the biggest thing is that we left a lot on the table. There is a lot more to go get. I think we know that and we believe that and we’re going to just keep getting better. Another win.”