Key Takeaways
- Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, despite their strong defensive performance, which concluded with the Steelers falling by the score of 20-17.
- Wilson was brought in in the off-season with a one-year contract worth $1.21 million to strengthen their quarterback lineup.
- We cannot assess the situation and the impact Russell’s return will cause just by looking at the stats when Russell hasn’t been able to showcase his performance.
After the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys, despite their strong defensive performance due to lacking offense situation, their Quarterback situation has become a pressing matter.
“The game that was delayed well over an hour due to weather in Pittsburgh concluded with the Steelers falling by the score of 20-17.”
This has raised doubt about the current quarterback, Justin Fields’s stance in the game.
Justin Fields speaks to the media after our game against the Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/3mZ4kMxZdO
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 7, 2024
Russell Wilson was sidelined for the first five games due to a calf injury sustained during the summer.
Wilson was brought in in the off-season with a one-year contract worth $1.21 million to strengthen their quarterback lineup and was named the emergency No. 3 quarterback.
"You can build this thing around Justin Fields."@PriscoCBS says Fields has done enough to hold off Russell Wilson as QB1 in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/L3qNKH5xkX
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 20, 2024
Discussions about which of the quarterbacks with be on the starting line have become the most asked question this season.
Putting the injury and health of the quarterbacks aside, both have their advantages and setbacks.
According to Steelersdepot,
“Justin Fields is by far the superior and more dynamic athlete, but Russell Wilson opens up the offense. We did see some typical complaints in Field’s game, but we would see typical Wilson complaints if he plays as well.”
If we were to compare the different stats of the players, such as,
Accuracy:
Wilson is consistently accurate, especially with deep throws and touch passes.
While, Justin has inconsistent accuracy, and struggles with short and intermediate passes.
Rushing Ability:
Wilson is still a capable scrambler but uses it more to extend plays than to gain yards. He has rushed for 172 yards and 3 TDs in 2024.
Justin excels in this area, rushing for 683 yards in 2023 and continuing to be a significant threat on the ground in 2024.
Passing Stats:
Wilson has a 67.6% completion rate, 961 yards, 7.1 yards/attempt, 5 TDs, 1 INT.
Justin has a 58.7% completion rate, 962 yards, 7.6 yards/attempt, 8 TDs, 6 INTs.
Wilson will definitely make a difference in the range and accuracy of passing, in terms of depth levels and areas of the field.
For example, Justin doesn’t work the intermediate and middle of the field much while Wilson also limits his movement in the middle but does more depth work.
Leadership:
Wilson is known for his leadership and ability to inspire teammates. His calm demeanor under pressure and experience in big-game situations (including a Super Bowl win) add value to his teams.
Justin is a developing leader who has shown flashes of potential but is still growing in the role. His competitive spirit and work ethic are praised, but he needs more consistency.
For now, Wilson can better read the defenses pre-snap and adjust to the play.
Overall, we cannot assess the situation and the impact Russell’s return will cause just by looking at the stats when Russell hasn’t been able to showcase his performance on the field due to his injury.
A decision seems to be in place after actually assessing the on-field performance of both the players.
So who will take the Steeler’s offensive identity…? We are yet to see.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The Steelers revamped their offense in the offseason by hiring former Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.
- Justin Fields is a decade younger than Russell Wilson.
- Pittsburgh’s biggest plays on offense were a 28-yard pass from Fields to George Pickens and a 20-yard screen to running back Najee Harris.
