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Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson parlayed “pole position” into the starting job. The race apparently was closer than expected, with Justin Fields performing well enough in preseason games and practice to make coach Mike Tomlin strategize about his options.
Ultimately, Wilson makes sense, for now. He has the experience. He has thrived on a roster with a strong defense and a good running game. He doesn’t have to be Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, something Wilson might have wanted to become in Denver. By playing within the broader structure of a team that made the playoffs last year without consistently competent quarterback play, Wilson could thrive again.
He doesn’t need to make big plays on a regular basis. He just needs to extend drives with a good decision and a solid throw, like he did on third and 11 in Detroit, in front of Lions fans who sounded as loud as they were in the playoffs. He doesn’t need to do it all the time; he needs to do it sufficiently often to allow the Steelers to eventually end a given game with more points scored than the opponent.
As to the opponents, the first half of the schedule gives Wilson a chance to earn the ability to keep starting down the stretch. With three of the first six games against AFC West opponents — teams he knows better than Fields does, especially the Broncos in Week 2 — Wilson becomes the safer and more sensible choice. And with three prime-time games landing between Week 5 and Week 8 (Cowboys, Jets, at Giants), the Steelers will enter their bye with eight games played.
If they go 3-5 or worse, the weekend off gives them a chance to prepare Fields for the final nine games, which include (starting in Week 11) their six annual showdowns within the AFC North. And if the Fields package (if that’s what the Steelers use from time to time) is effective, that will give Tomlin more reason to think a shift to the more shifty Fields will make sense after Week 8.
Wilson has the higher floor. While the game seems less…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-schedule-gives-russell-wilson-032900007.html
Author : ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports
Publish date : 2024-08-29 03:29:00
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