In Sunday night's game against the New York Jets, Russell Wilson showed some early signs of rust, having not played competitive football since Christmas Eve last year. However, the veteran quarterback quickly found his rhythm, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a commanding 37-15 victory.
Head coach Mike Tomlin praised Wilson’s performance. "I thought he was excellent," Tomlin said. "He improved as the game progressed, which was expected. It's been a while since he played, but once he knocked the rust off, he distributed the ball well and played a strong game."
Wilson’s early struggles drew boos from the home crowd, especially after a few misfired passes. Pittsburgh opened with a field goal but followed it with three straight three-and-outs, prompting some fans to chant for backup QB Justin Fields. But a key interception by Beanie Bishop Jr. late in the first half turned the tide, leading to a touchdown that settled Wilson and the offense. From that point, the Steelers scored on their final five possessions, including four touchdowns.
Wilson kept a calm demeanor despite the rough start. "I really believe in staying neutral—not too high, not too low," Wilson said when asked about the crowd's reaction. "I felt like I was going to get hot, and I kept telling coach that. Sure enough, we did."
Wilson ended the game with 264 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing score, and a passer rating of 109.0, setting a new Steelers debut record for passing yards, breaking Earl Morrall's 249 yards in 1957. His rating also surpassed Justin Fields’ season-high mark of 104.0.
Reflecting on his performance, Wilson said, "There’s so much more out there for us, and that's the good news. We’re going to keep improving, and there's a lot of football left to play."
Despite the early hiccups, Tomlin stuck with the 35-year-old quarterback, and his patience paid off. Wilson’s deep throws to wide receiver George Pickens opened up the offense, which had struggled earlier in the season. His improved decision-making and touch, particularly in the red zone, were pivotal to the Steelers' success.
Wilson acknowledged the key moment in the game: "Throwing that first touchdown to George was when I knew there would be a lot more to come. Sometimes all it takes is that first big play to get rolling."
The win marked the Steelers' highest point total since Week 11 of 2021, when Ben Roethlisberger was still leading the team. If Wilson can continue hitting deep passes like he did on Sunday, Pittsburgh’s offense could become a serious threat moving forward.
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