Justin Fields led the Pittsburgh Steelers to an 18-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. And whereas some may argue Fields didn’t truly prepared the ground, he earned his eleventh profession win as an NFL quarterback nonetheless.
Fields’ detractors may say kicker Chris Boswell’s leg and Pittsburgh’s protection gained the sport for the Steelers and so they aren’t essentially fallacious, however Fields confirmed sufficient to warrant persevering with on the Steelers’ starter immaterial of Russell Wilson’s well being.
Regardless that some tried to promote a quarterback competitors all through coaching camp, most within the know anticipated Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to call the veteran Wilson the starter, which he did. However a calf harm sidelined Wilson early and compelled Tomlin to go to Plan B.
Because the Plan B, Fields accomplished an environment friendly 17-of-23 passes (granted for just 156 yards) via the air. He tallied 57 yards on the bottom as nicely. Fields averaged 6.8 yards per cross and completed the sport with a 91.9 quarterback score regardless of failing the get the offense into the tip zone. As talked about above, Boswell bailed out the offense and connecting on six field goals to account for all 18 factors, together with a 57-yarder.
Is it attainable Wilson may have put collectively an identical sport towards Atlanta? Certain. It is also attainable Wilson might have discovered the tip zone provided that he did account for 29 total touchdowns in 2023 to Fields’ 20.
However Fields, who constructed chemistry with star huge receiver George Pickens on Sunday to the tune of six catches for 85 yards, did present flashes of the first-round expertise the Chicago Bears as soon as believed in. Actually, his athleticism — one thing Wilson not possess at this level in his profession — was on full show.
Fields truly joined some elite firm, changing into only the third quarterback because the AFL-NFL merger to publish a completion proportion over 70 whereas speeding for 50 or extra yards of their group debut.
“I am positively gassed to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Fields told Fox’s Pam Oliver on the sector after the sport.
Fields supplies purpose for optimism in regards to the offense, however past that, Tomlin cannot afford to repeatedly waffle at quarterback, particularly with a rookie in Zach Frazier beginning at middle and needing continuity to have success. The NFL is a troublesome enterprise and gamers lose their jobs to harm on a regular basis.
Fields can also be more likely to be a part of the Steelers’ future, if solely as a result of his age alone. Clearly, Tomlin is not involved about 2025 in 2024, however the advantage of evaluating the youthful Fields serves as a pleasant profit to taking part in him, too.
Realizing Tomlin, a wholesome Wilson reclaiming the beginning position could be very a lot in play. And Tomlin told the media to ask him once more on Tuesday when confronted with a query in regards to the quarterback place shifting ahead.
At this level, the safer wager and the transfer that can possible see him criticized much less it doesn’t matter what occurs is to stay with Fields so long as the group is profitable.
