The Steelers’ offense has two quarterbacks … and a slew of unanswered questions

CLEVELAND — Because the flakes tumbled from the evening sky, turning Huntington Financial institution Discipline right into a snow globe, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson dropped again and let it fly.

The go, thrown with anticipation, discovered receiver Calvin Austin III on time and on track in the long run zone for the go-ahead, 23-yard landing. After failing to attain a landing for greater than seven consecutive quarters relationship to Week 10 in opposition to the Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh had scored two in lower than two minutes to take a one-point lead over the Cleveland Browns with 6:15 remaining.

.@DangeRussWilson ➡️ @CalvinAustinIII for six!!!!

📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/ucLP4kE2cM

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 22, 2024

It was a miraculous comeback. Till it wasn’t.

“The sport is rarely received till you get on the bus,” Austin stated after the sport. “So it was undoubtedly an emotional second (after the landing). We had been all hype and stuff. However we knew we had an impressed group that was about to get the ball again.”

Because it turned out, the Browns obtained the ball again not as soon as, however twice.

The Steelers’ protection did its job the primary time, forcing backup quarterback Jameis Winston into an errant go that cornerback Donte Jackson intercepted with 4:22 to go. However after Pittsburgh went three-and-out — with Justin Fields in for Wilson at quarterback on second and third down — and Corliss Waitman shanked a punt for the primary time as a Steeler, the protection couldn’t get off the sector once more.

Cleveland obtained the ball again with 3:22 remaining and drove 45 yards in 9 performs. The Browns capped the sequence with a 2-yard Nick Chubb landing with 57 seconds remaining, then batted down Wilson’s Hail Mary as time expired to stun the Steelers, 24-19.

A group that made a press release by beating the Baltimore Ravens simply 4 days earlier dropped to 8-3, leaving the door open within the aggressive AFC North.

“Missed alternatives,” defensive co-captain Cameron Hayward stated. “Now we have to eat it. They made extra performs on the finish. A few of that stuff we will have some head-scratching about what was on show. Simply take it, transfer on. I do know all people is fairly pissed off in regards to the loss.”

The weighty moments on the finish of the sport loom giant: coach Mike Tomlin’s choice to just accept an unlawful touching penalty that gave the Browns a second crack at third down on the ultimate drive, then spending a timeout that might be wanted later; the protection on the following third-and-6 conversion; the choice to sort out Chubb on the 2-yard line with greater than 90 seconds remaining as an alternative of letting him rating to protect time and get the ball again.

However the actuality is that this sport was misplaced a lot earlier, on the opposite facet of the ball.

“We beat ourselves with a number of errors,” Austin stated. “That takes all 11 trying within the mirror and simply persevering with to push particulars. They’re a great group. Obtained to provide them credit score. However on the finish of the day, we simply obtained to carry out higher.”

Two weeks in the past, when Wilson erased a 10-point, second-half deficit in opposition to the Commanders, it appeared the offense had lastly figured it out after years of instability and inconsistency. On the time, the veteran sign caller had led the Steelers to 31.7 factors and 382 complete yards per sport by means of three begins. If the offense continued alongside the identical trajectory, it was affordable to think about the Steelers official Tremendous Bowl contenders that might stand toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen.

Nevertheless it hasn’t continued.

If these first three video games confirmed the explosive upside of Wilson’s moonball, his veteran presence and his means to make checks on the line of scrimmage, the previous two have revealed most of the Steelers’ offensive warts.

It’s actually not all on Wilson. Nevertheless, sacks have gotten problematic, placing the offense behind the chains. This was an apparent space of concern the minute the Steelers signed Wilson, contemplating he led the NFL in sacks taken in two of the earlier 5 seasons. Initially, when he took over for Fields in Week 7, the Steelers did effectively sufficient to guard Wilson that it wasn’t a significant crimson flag.

Nevertheless, within the first half alone on Thursday, Wilson was sacked 4 instances, because the Browns saved the Steelers’ offensive line off stability with stunts and video games up entrance. Three of these sacks got here from Myles Garrett, together with a strip-sack that set the Browns up on a brief subject.

Myles strips the ball and we recuperate it 🙌😤 #PITvsCLE | @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/36WalR8R8h

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 22, 2024

Even past the detrimental performs, Pittsburgh’s offense has turn out to be too increase or bust. Sure, as soon as once more, Wilson’s deep shot was a catalyst. He related with Austin on a 46-yard bomb up the seam, hit Van Jefferson on a 35-yard achieve and located George Pickens for 31 yards. These huge performs helped bolster what was a stable stat line from Wilson, as he accomplished 21 of 28 passes for 270 yards and a landing with no interceptions for a 116.7 passer score.

The issue is, when the Steelers aren’t producing touchdowns on these deep pictures, they’re having a tough time ending drives. The problems emerged on the opening drive. On third down, Wilson took an 8-yard sack on third-and-2, turning a possible 50-yard subject purpose try right into a 58-yarder that the dependable Chris Boswell missed.

The Steelers, who rank twenty sixth in success charge (37.2 p.c, per TruMedia) since Wilson took over, tried to make use of each useful resource out there to maintain the offense going. Nevertheless, one other first-half drive was halted on the 40-yard line. This time, they deployed Fields on a fourth-and-2 QB keeper, failing and turning the ball over on downs. The offense additionally fizzled on the 30 (made subject purpose), its personal 46 (failed fourth-and-1 run by Jaylen Warren) and the Cleveland 9-yard line (made subject purpose).

“We had some actually good, explosive performs down the sector, throwing the ball with Van (Jefferson) — he made some nice catches — and Calvin (Austin),” Wilson stated. “After which we obtained stalled for no matter causes. We’ve obtained to observe the movie and see what that was. … We would have liked one or two extra performs.”

Complicating issues is the distinctive quarterback dynamic. After using the Fields package deal for 3 performs on Sunday in opposition to the Ravens, the Steelers featured their cell QB on seven snaps (plus an eighth that didn’t occur due to a false begin) on Thursday.

The outcomes had been blended. After arising quick on fourth down early within the sport, Fields supplied a second-half spark when he saved the ball on a zone learn and raced 30 yards alongside the precise sideline. That performed helped jump-start the offense, and later in the identical drive, the specter of Fields retaining the ball on the zone learn helped Warren burst into the tip zone to snap the Steelers’ touchdown-less skid and kindle the rally.

Jaylen Warren in for the TD! The @Steelers reply proper again.#PITvsCLE on Prime Video
Additionally streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/aDPce0i8CM

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2024

The Steelers additionally put the ball in Fields’ arms in a four-minute state of affairs with the lead. It was an affordable time to play the working quarterback, with the Steelers making an attempt to burn the clock. Nevertheless, on third-and-4, his deep shot for Pickens sailed incomplete, stopping the clock and giving the Browns loads of time to attain the go-ahead landing.

Requested if he would have appreciated to be within the sport in that crucial second, Wilson was considerably clear.

“Pay attention, I at all times need to be in there,” he stated. “That’s simply the competitor in me. However on the identical time, now we have nice belief in Justin, our group, our coaches and every thing we’re doing.”

It’s additionally not the best problem for Fields. He stated after the sport that he felt “sort of stiff” on his 30-yard run after standing on the sideline for the whole lot of the second and third quarters, including he felt he may have scored on the play. Requested if it’s tough to enter the sport mid-stream and nearly with out warning, Fields admitted it’s.

“However on the finish of the day, that’s what my job is,” he stated. “So you possibly can’t complain. Anytime I get an opportunity and a possibility to go on the sector and assist my group, I’m comfortable to do it.”

Sitting behind a keyboard and watching the sport from the press field, it’s truthfully exhausting to say what the precise stability needs to be. Fields has typically been the Steelers’ finest offensive weapon, and his mobility would possibly have the ability to assist them rectify their crimson zone woes. Utilizing each quarterbacks permits the Steelers to regulate on the fly if the offense wants a jolt or if the opposing go rush is changing into too huge of an element. Then again, it does appear that, at instances, rotating quarterbacks can disrupt the passers’ rhythm and timing.

Nonetheless, it’s necessary to do not forget that the Steelers obtained to 8-2 because of the contributions of each gamers. In the event that they’re going to show that this two-game stretch of offensive woes was a blip on the radar, and that this offense can in truth present an edge within the postseason, they’re in all probability going to want to proceed to make use of each.

Discovering that proper stability and rediscovering a technique to end drives will assist decide how far this offense — and the group as an entire — goes.

“We’ve obtained a number of soccer left,” Wilson stated. “We’ve obtained a number of alternatives to reply within the highest means, highest stage. I feel that every thing that we wish continues to be in entrance of us.”

(Picture of Russell Wilson: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Photos)