It would seem logical for the Pittsburgh Steelers to stick with the 4-2 Quarterback, Justin Fields, ahead of Sunday Night’s home clash with the New York Jets. However, with Russell Wilson preparing to make his first start in black and gold, why such a big change when a Week 6 victory seemed to get things back on track?
Big Change At Quarterback
Fields became the unexpected starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 of the 2024 season when a lingering calf injury kept Wilson out of the lineup. Since then, the former Chicago Bears’ first round pick has led the Steelers to four wins. With Aaron Rodgers and the Jets waiting in primetime, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that the veteran will be under center instead of Fields. The move has divided both fans and media, with some believing it was always Wilson’s job regardless of how Fields performed.
Whatever the circumstances are, Wilson will still need to play football on Sunday night, and with a brutal second half of the 2024 campaign coming up, every single early game is important. New York presents a unique challenge considering the team is fourth in the NFL with 20 sacks on the year. Wilson might bring more experience to the table, but on paper, it looks like Pittsburgh’s offense has less athletic flexibility. Fields had already tallied 231 rushing yards to go with five scores on the ground in 2024, and in a low-scoring offense, those will be hard numbers to replace.
Pittsburgh Steelers Need One-Two Punch Again
The Pittsburgh Steelers needed to get right after a painful two-game losing streak, and a win in Las Vegas seemed to do just that. Najee Harris led the charge with one of the best games he has had in his career (14 carries, 106 yards, one score, 7.6-yard average). This was done despite losing standout rookie center Zach Frazier in the third quarter and Broderick Jones having another unimpressive showing on the edge. The running game is crucial to Arthur Smith’s offense’s success. With the quarterback change, there will be more responsibility on Harris to put together another strong outing in primetime.
Cordarelle Patterson will miss Week 7, leaving most of the workload split between Harris and Jaylen Warren. While Harris appears ready to shoulder the rushing attack, Warren has been handcuffed by injuries throughout the 2024 season. Against one of the more formidable defenses in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers need its two-headed backfield to return to being a one-two punch.
Defense Is the Steelers’ Strength
The strength of the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers has been the defense since Week 1, and against the Jets on Sunday Night Football, things won’t be any different. With a quarterback change indicating Pittsburgh’s slow-starting offense may take even longer to find its feet, TJ Watt and the defense must be ready to pick up the slack. Despite only getting one sack against the Raiders in Week 6, the front seven caused consistent chaos, leading to a rough outing for Aidan O’Connell. Rodgers will be much harder to handle than O’Connell, and the extent to which the defense can minimize him will determine a win or loss.
Watt, Heyward, and the now-healthy Alex Highsmith get a great deal of the focus, but on Sunday night, the way the secondary performs will be critical. Pittsburgh’s run defense gets a massive boost with Highsmith returning, which means it could come down to the passing game from New York. The newly-acquired Davante Adams has been reunited with Rodgers, and Garrett Wilson means the Jets have two weapons, along with Allen Lazard, who also played with Rodgers as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Conclusion and Prediction
While this may not be Rodgers in his prime, there is always the chance he could go off and find that dangerous arm again. Primetime in Pittsburgh would seem to be one of those moments where Rodgers could revert back to his old self, especially with two of his previous targets back with him. Watt and company will be eager to get in his face and force errors, but the burden will be on the defensive backs, especially rookie Beanie Bishop, who has been a liability in coverage more than once.
In what should be a low-scoring affair, turnovers will determine whether the Jets move towards .500 or the Pittsburgh Steelers get to 5-2 with one week before the Bye. Week 6 in Las Vegas proved that the Steelers can win winnable games, but can the Pittsburgh Steelers rise to the challenge under a national spotlight? If Harris can continue whatever he woke last week, it could be a coming-out party for the Steelers. Wilson will be under a microscope, but a veteran touch might be needed for the black and gold to grow in 2024. Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 20 – New York Jets 18.
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