As we wrap up 13 weeks of the NFL season, it’s becoming clearer who’s who in the league. The Kansas City Chiefs? They’ve mastered the art of winning those nail-biters with their uncanny ability to find a way. The Detroit Lions? Get ready to be dazzled by their explosive offense week after week. And then there are the Cincinnati Bengals, who continue to rack up high scores with their superstar quarterback, Joe Burrow, putting up MVP-worthy numbers—but it seems like they can’t quite clinch those victories, and in the run game, keep an eye out for sensational long-distance sprints from Saquon Barkley of the Eagles and Derrick Henry of the Ravens—they’re electrifying!
But let’s talk surprises. Last week, for my week 1 wrap-up, I mentioned the Eagles as my sleeper team. Now, I’m giving you another candidate: the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Who would have thought the Steelers would be 11-3 and first place in the AFC North, two games ahead of the Ravens? Not many. Here’s why.
As the season approached, fans anticipated a quarterback controversy since they signed Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. However, that wasn’t the case. Coach Mike Tomlin named Wilson the starter, but unfortunately, Wilson went down before the first game with an aggravated calf injury, so Fileds took over as the starter. As a starter, Fields held his own. He led the team to a 4-2 record with five passing touchdowns and one interception for 1,106 passing yards. He rushed for 248 yards with five rushing touchdowns. Then Wilson returned from injury. Fans thought Tomlin was crazy when he inserted Wilson in the starting lineup after Fields played pretty well, but that’s why Tomlin is “well compensated,” as he said after Wilson led the Steelers to a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets in his first game back. Even still, I don’t think teams took the Steelers as a serious threat until they beat the Ravens. Although Wilson’s numbers weren’t impressive, he did enough to win, and at that point, he had a record of 5-0 as a starter.
If that Ravens win didn’t move you, how about the win over the Cincinnati Bengals, where he did put up impressive numbers? In that thrilling game, Wilson, who signed a veteran league-minimum deal to join the Steelers, showcased his exceptional talent and experience, delivering an outstanding performance that left fans and analysts in awe. He completed an impressive 29 of 38 passing attempts, racking up a remarkable total of 414 yards—his highest this season. Wilson threw three touchdown passes, demonstrating precision and agility, while only throwing one interception, a testament to his decision-making under pressure.
The excitement of the match was palpable, culminating in a hard-fought victory for his team, which won with a final score of 44-38. While Fields, starting in his own right, had a commendable game, he couldn’t match the dazzling numbers that Wilson put up. This performance marked the 13-year veteran’s emergence as a dominant force once again, as he recorded the second-most passing yards of his career and celebrated the third 400-yard game.
Coach Mike Tomlin was noticeably ecstatic, praising Wilson’s dedication and skill, which not only contributed to the win but also lifted the morale of the entire team as they continued their pursuit of success in the league.
“I thought our group smiled in the face of it, particularly (Wilson),” said Tomlin after the Bengals win. “It’s the first time for him going through AFC North football, and I thought he acclimated himself to it well today. He put himself squarely in the history of this series with that performance today.”
If you’re still skeptical about the Steelers’ performance with Wilson at the helm, consider this: he holds an impressive 5-1 record as a starter, with his sole defeat to the Cleveland Browns—who also managed to outplay the Ravens. Now, let’s dive deep into the statistics. According to “First Things First,” a popular sports talk show that airs on Fox Sports 1, since Wilson became the starter, he’s been one of the best quarterbacks when throwing the deep ball. When throwing 10 or more yards, he’s first in completion percentage, 58.8 percent, third in passer rating, 126.4 percent, and has a 7-2 touchdown-to-turnover ratio, which is good for fifth best.
At the press conference following his best performance of the season so far, Wilson, now 36, expressed a sense of renewed energy and vitality while playing in Pittsburgh. His enthusiasm was evident as he reflected on the uplifting atmosphere and the support from fans, which he believes have invigorated his game and reinvigorated his passion for football.
“For me, I just turned 36 the other day (November 29), but I feel like I’m 26, well maybe I’m 30.” chuckled Wilson with a playful grin. “I think the best part about it is, we’re having fun man. We’re having a blast doing it, and we’ll do whatever it takes to do what we need to do, what’s necessary, and that’s the fun part for me as a quarterback. I’m just excited to be a part of this team.”
Wilson openly expressed his enjoyment of playing football, highlighting the thrill and passion he feels on the field. However, he also candidly recognized that, despite the Pittsburgh Steelers currently holding the best record in their division, they have yet to achieve anything significant. This acknowledgment reflects a sense of awareness about the competitive nature of the sport and the importance of focusing on future challenges rather than resting on current success.
“We haven’t done nothing yet,” said the nine-time Pr Bowler. “We have to finish. We have to do it right, and it’s the same respect for the rest of the season. We have to keep swinging and keep responding.”
The Steelers are gearing up for a challenging stretch in their season that could define their playoff aspirations. Next week, they’ll face off against the Browns in a highly-anticipated rematch on their home turf. Then, they’ll dive straight into a grueling 10-day stretch, taking on the formidable Eagles, the fierce Chiefs, and another intense battle against the Ravens. The Steelers might be a sleeper team right now, but I highly doubt they’ll continue to fly under the radar for long.
