Steelers Finally "A Threat Now To Score" As Russell Wilson Is Credited For Sensational Performance Over Commanders

The Pittsburgh Steelers have heard all season that they haven't "played anybody yet." They entered the season being told they would finish last in the AFC North. None of the so-called experts were giving them a chance at a championship, let alone a playoff win. Many even predicted this would be Head Coach Mike Tomlin's first losing season in black and gold.

That noise only got louder when starting quarterback Russell Wilson was injured before the season began, and Justin Fields had to play in his place. However, Fields didn't lose often and didn't turn the ball over as expected. Fields led the team to 4-2, and Tomlin made the shocking decision to sit him when Wilson was healthy and ready to play. Once again, the team, especially Tomlin, was ridiculed for benching a winning quarterback in favor of an unknown commodity. 

As he likes to say, Tomlin didn't blink; he didn't live in his fears. He chose the path he believed was best and stuck to his guns, and it paid off—big time. Wilson was outstanding in his first three games in the Steel City. He is finally given the credit he deserves, as he is heralded as a genius, and the Steelers are touted as possible Super Bowl contenders. 

Tim Benz, from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, recently joined the Randy Baumann & the DVE Morning Show on 102.5 WDVE and said that Wilson provides something the Steelers haven't had since Ben Roethlisberger retired. 

"Russell Wilson is doing what we haven't seen quarterbacks do here in Pittsburgh lately, which is to outscore a team and coming up with a clutch throw late in a game like the one he threw to Mike Williams," said Benz. "I guess you can credit Kenny Pickett when he was here for doing some things well in the fourth quarter that he didn't do throughout the first three. But I just feel like there's a threat now to score throughout 60 minutes with Russ that we haven't seen before. It's refreshing."

The Steelers beat the Commanders by only a single point, but he did something Fields couldn't do earlier this season against the Indianapolis Colts: mount a come-from-behind victory. He struggled more to achieve this victory than he had his other two. The Steelers allowed Washington to stay in the game, so Wilson had to minimize mistakes. 

Perhaps it is the veteran presence of a player who's led his team to win a Super Bowl, but Wilson showed tremendous poise. He never seemed rattled or like the game was too big for him. He knew what had to be done, and as Benz noted, he delivered a perfect pass to new Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams. 

The Steelers will now enter the toughest part of their season as they play all their divisional games and face some of the best teams in the league. That all starts in Week 11 with their game against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers and Wilson need to capitalize upon what was successful in the game against Washington and minimize some of the mistakes. 

Steelers' George Pickens Also Deserves Credit

While Benz said he initially gave Wilson his "game ball," he believes that wide receiver George Pickens also deserves credit. Pickens frequently frustrates Steelers fans who do not see him as a true team player. 

That wasn't the Pickens that came to play against the Commanders, according to Benz. Pickens had only five catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. However, those catches came at all the right times, and he once again averaged more than 18 yards per catch.

In addition to the catches, Pickens was a major force in why the run game broke through Washington's defense and finally gained yards. Benz applauded Pickens for his blocking on run plays, which he has been accused of failing to help with. 

Do you agree that Wilson is a "threat to score" that the Steelers have been missing? Click to comment below. 

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