Russell Wilson sat at the podium, still wearing his uniform, taking his time before leaving. This was a moment he always knew would come. Even with the weeks of uncertainty as his calf injury stubbornly refused to heal, he never lost faith. Even as the promising Justin Fields filled in and performed well for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilson’s belief in his own abilities never wavered. And even as the outside noise about a potential quarterback controversy grew louder, Wilson remained calm, knowing his moment would arrive.
The Power of Belief
At 35, belief is everything for Wilson. He was confident he'd have the chance to reset his career in Pittsburgh, even if it took a bit longer than he anticipated. The chance came Sunday night in a 37-15 victory over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. Wilson proved that he’s far from finished, reminding everyone why he’s still one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks. The crowd witnessed a resurgent Wilson throw for two touchdowns and run for another score. He completed 16 of 29 passes, racking up 264 yards despite shaking off some early rust.
The game didn’t start smoothly. Pittsburgh’s offense struggled in the first half, with fans booing and even chanting for Fields when things weren’t clicking. But Wilson’s confidence never wavered. Late in the first half, he connected with George Pickens for an 11-yard touchdown, allowing him to exhale a bit. "I was like, ‘There’s going to be a lot more of these, I believe,’” Wilson said with a smile after the game.
A Much-Needed Win for Pittsburgh
While Wilson didn’t throw any more touchdowns to Pickens, he added a 1-yard touchdown run on a quarterback sneak in the third quarter and a 4-yard toss to Van Jefferson in the fourth. With those scores, the Steelers reached 30 points for the second week in a row, a feat they hadn’t accomplished since early in the 2020 season. "We’re just right on that edge of getting really good and being great,” Wilson said. "We’ve got to keep searching for that edge, learning, studying, and putting in the time."
Though Wilson may not be in his prime “Let Russ Cook” days, he still looked like a player capable of leading Pittsburgh to greatness. With a packed stadium that even included Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in attendance, the Steelers closed out the game by scoring 31 unanswered points after trailing 15-6.
“We’re doing some good things,” Wilson added. “But the reality is there’s so much more out there for us, and we’ll keep getting better as we go. We’re in a good place right now, but there’s more to come.”
The Struggles of the Jets
The story was different for the New York Jets. After starting the season with some promise, they’ve now dropped four games in a row, falling to 2-5. The addition of Davante Adams in a trade from Las Vegas gave their offense a boost, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the team from continuing its downward spiral. Head coach Jeff Ulbrich didn’t mince words after the game. “That game, especially that second half, that’s not who this team is,” Ulbrich said. “That’s not good enough, and it starts with me, the coaching staff, and goes down to every single player on this team. We can all give more, and we will give more.”
The Jets’ offense, led by Rodgers, managed some highlights. Rodgers threw for 276 yards and connected with Adams three times for 30 yards, but the two interceptions he threw to rookie cornerback Beanie Bishop changed the course of the game. Both picks led to Steelers’ touchdowns.
Game-Changing Plays by the Steelers Defense
Bishop’s first interception came at a pivotal moment. The Jets were up nine points in the first half and had the chance to extend their lead when Bishop stepped in front of a Rodgers pass intended for Garrett Wilson at midfield. That interception set up Pickens’ first touchdown of the season, allowing Pittsburgh to close the gap.
In the third quarter, with Pittsburgh already ahead, Bishop struck again. Rodgers attempted to hit Garrett Wilson on a deep throw down the left sideline, but the ball bounced off Wilson and landed in Bishop’s hands. Bishop returned the interception all the way to the Jets’ 1-yard line, barely missing out on a pick-six thanks to a sprinting Adams, who tackled him just short of the goal line. No matter—Wilson powered his way into the end zone on the very next play.
Wilson’s fourth-quarter touchdown to Jefferson sealed the victory, giving the Steelers the kind of comfortable margin that’s been rare in recent seasons. Since the start of 2021, Pittsburgh has played in more one-score games than any other team, but this time, they left no doubt.
Tomlin’s Big Decision
Earlier in the week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made headlines with his decision to start Wilson over Fields, who had performed well in Wilson’s absence. Fields had accounted for 10 touchdowns (five passing, five rushing) in six starts with just one turnover. Tomlin’s reasoning for the switch was simple: The Steelers had been good, but “not to be confused with great.”
When asked after the game how tough it was to make that call, Tomlin flashed a knowing smile. "That’s why I’m well compensated,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said before walking off.
Injury Report
Both teams suffered their share of injuries in the game. For the Jets, guard Xavier Newman was carted off with a neck injury after getting blocked on Bishop’s interception return. He was taken to the hospital for observation, but X-rays were negative, and he was able to fly home with the team. Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker also left with an ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return. Safeties Tony Adams (hamstring) and Ashtyn Davis (concussion) were also forced out of the game.
On the Steelers’ side, defensive tackle Montravius Adams exited in the first half with a knee injury, and cornerback Donte Jackson left with a shoulder issue.
Looking Ahead
The Steelers are now 5-2 and sitting in a good spot, but Wilson knows the work is just beginning. "We’re in a good place, but we’ll keep working. There’s so much more out there for us," he said. The Jets, meanwhile, have a lot of work to do if they want to turn their season around. Their next few weeks will be crucial as they fight to stay in the AFC East race.
As Wilson walked off the field Sunday night, he did so with a renewed sense of purpose and a belief that more big moments lie ahead.
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