Wilson choice was no surprise, but Lions could be one
By Dale Lolley
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin finally announced what was the worst-kept secret in Pittsburgh for anyone actually paying attention – Russell Wlson will be his team’s starting quarterback over Justin Fields.
“It was a difficult decision, but not difficult in a negative way,” Tomlin said. “It was difficult in a positive way. The decision was difficult because of what they’re capable of doing. The decision was difficult because of how they’ve conducted themselves, as opposed to the things that they fall short in, in terms of capabilities or negative conduct. Both guys have been really professional. I’ve been really excited about getting to know them and their games and having the ability to analyze what both are capable of bringing.”
Tomlin gave Fields a shot – at least paying lip service to that – to bring out the best in both quarterbacks. And that was what happened.
Perhaps the overall results weren’t apparent in the three preseason games, but that didn’t match up with what was happening in practices. Both quarterbacks performed well.
Wilson, however, is just more polished, which is to be expected for a 13-year veteran with nearly 200 career NFL games.
Wilson gives the Steelers the best chance to win, while Fields remains a player with massive upside. But with that upside comes some mistakes. And that’s something the Steelers just can’t live with right now.
Wilson’s career high in interceptions is only 13. Last season in Denver, he threw eight. For his career, he has thrown 334 touchdowns against 106 interceptions.
Last season, he had eight games in which he threw multiple touchdown passes and also threw a touchdown pass in all 15 of his starts. The Steelers had two multi-touchdown games and just 13 TD passes overall.
The Steelers don’t need Wilson to be the quarterback he was five or six years ago to be successful. They just need a capable, competent quarterback who gets the ball into the end zone on a regular basis.
• The NFL season kicks off Thursday in Kansas City when the Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens.
That’s not a fun place to start for Baltimore.
The AFC North saw every team in the division finish with a winning record in 2023, the first time that had happened in more than 50 NFL seasons.
Can the division do it again? Maybe. But three of the four teams face some of the most difficult schedules in the league, with Cincinnati being the outlier. The Bengals’ schedule is middle of the pack.
That could be the difference in the division.
That’s why the pick here is for Cincinnati to win the AFC North at 11-6. The Steelers and Ravens, who lost half of their defensive coaching staff to other teams, are changing out three-fifths of their offensive line and also saw the coach of that unit die last week, will both finish 10-7.
The Browns will take a step backward and finish at 8-9.
In the AFC East, Buffalo’s grip on the division title will slip away with Miami winning the division at 11-6. The Bills and Jets will both finish 10-7, while the Patriots will finish last at 3-14.
In the AFC South, Houston’s the class of the division and will win it again at 12-5. Jacksonville will finish second at 9-8, while the Colts will be 7-10 and the Titans 6-11.
The AFC West will be a cakewalk for the Chiefs, who will win it going away at 13-4. The Chargers will finish second at 8-9, while the Raiders and Broncos will both be 7-10.
The AFC Wildcard teams will be Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Buffalo, with the Chiefs once again winning the AFC Championship.
In the NFC, Philadelphia will win the East at 11-6, with Dallas finishing 10-7. The Giants (6-11) and Commanders (5-12) will be among the league’s worst teams.
In the NFC North, look for Detroit (12-5) and Green Bay (11-6) to battle it out all season, with Chicago (7-10) and Minnesota (6-11) trailing.
Atlanta looks like the class of the NFC South, but that means finishing 9-8, just ahead of Tampa Bay (8-9), New Orleans (8-9) and Carolina (4-13).
In the NFC West, San Francisco should be able to overcome a tumultuous offseason to win the division at 11-6. The Rams will finish second at 10-7, while the Seahawks (9-8) and Cardinals (7-10) will be just behind.
The Wildcard teams in the NFC will be Dallas, Green Bay and Los Angeles, with the Lions making a surprise trip to the Super Bowl.
And this just might be Detroit’s season.
Take the Lions to beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Why not? Patrick Mahomes can’t win it every year, right?
Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.