Oct 11, 2024 5 min read

There’s nothing ailing the Steelers offense that a veteran quarterback couldn’t resolve.

Justin Fields has done the job, getting the Steelers to 3-2 while navigating a number of injuries, particularly along the offensive line. The Steelers have started four different offensive line combinations in five games.

They’ve played without their second and third running backs – who also serve as their kick returners – putting everything on the plate of Najee Harris to run the ball, the cornerstone of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense.

And yet they have lost the two games by a combined three points.

Fields has accounted for eight touchdowns – five passing and three rushing – with one interception and one lost fumble.

But this offense would be better served with Russell Wilson, now that he has returned to health, at quarterback.

For all the good he has done, Fields has completed 17 of 27 passes using play-action – a staple of Smith’s offensive game plans – but for only 115 yards, an average 4.3 yards per attempt.

By comparison, Wilson has averaged 8.4 yards per pass attempt on play-action in his career, and 8.6 last season in Denver.

The Steelers are utilizing play-action passes at the second-highest percentage in the NFL. But they’re not taking advantage of them.

Against the Cowboys last Sunday, Fields was 0-for-6 on pass attempts 20 or more yards downfield. Three of those misses came early in the game, when the Steelers were trying to soften up Dallas’ defense to keep it from crashing the line of scrimmage to stop the run.

And then there is the stuff that’s happening with George Pickens.

He had an expletive written on his eye black during Sunday’s game. He pouted openly on the bench and showed his frustration at the end of the game by throwing a Dallas defender to the ground by his facemask.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said those things have been discussed with Pickens internally, which is how Tomlin chooses to handle such things.

But having a veteran quarterback who has won a Super Bowl, been to another and has been voted to nine Pro Bowls goes a long way toward controlling a mercurial wide receiver.

In the first half against Dallas, Pickens got two targets. Tight end Pat Freiermuth, the team’s second-leading receiver, got none.

It’s a guarantee that Smith’s game plan did not include the team’s two leading receivers getting a combined two targets over the first two quarters.

One thing Ben Roethlisberger would do during his tenure would be to make sure the team’s top receiving threats were targeted early in a game. And he would make sure to get others involved, as well, to make sure they were completely engaged.

It sounds childish, but many receivers don’t want to run 25 routes without getting the ball. Veteran quarterbacks know that and get them the ball to keep them involved.

The Steelers brought Wilson in to be their starting quarterback. He was named by Tomlin as the starter going into the season. He was voted a captain by his teammates.

This offense, with so many young players on the field, needs that veteran leadership, as much as it needs to score more points.

The Steelers are averaging 18.4 points per game, the fewest of any team currently with a winning record in the NFL, and only slightly up from the 17.9 points they averaged last year.

In games started by Wilson last season, the Broncos averaged 21.8 points per game.

When Wilson is ready to go, he should get an opportunity to improve upon that.

Fields, who will start this week against the Raiders, can still be part of the Steelers’ long-term plans. He’s shown enough to accomplish that.

But this team has goals this season. And to accomplish those, it needs a leader on offense.

This week’s games

Steelers (minus 3) at Raiders: The Steelers have a myriad of injuries, particularly at outside linebacker and running back. But the Raiders are banged up and will not have defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, among others. The Raiders also are going with Aidan O’Connell at quarterback over Gardner Minshew. Take the Steelers, 20-13.

Bengals (minus 3½) at Giants: The Giants just went to Seattle and knocked off the Seahawks, while the Bengals lost to the Ravens in overtime to fall to 0-3 at home. This one’s not in Cincinnati, so maybe the Bengals get the win. We’ll go with that. Take the Bengals, 27-20.

Commanders (plus 6½) at Ravens: The Ravens usually have their way with NFC teams at home in the Lamar Jackson era. Washington can score, but can its defense stop Jackson? The Magic 8 Ball says no. Take the Ravens, 34-24.

Browns (plus 8½) at Eagles: The Eagles are coming off a bye and will have wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith back. The Browns only seem like they’ve been on a season-long bye. Deshaun Watson has more settled lawsuits (23) than he does touchdown passes since joining the Browns. Take the Eagles, 27-13.

Buccaneers (minus 3½) at Saints: The Saints were the darlings of the NFL in the first two weeks, when they scored more than 90 points. They’ve not been anywhere close to that team since. And now QB Derek Carr is out, putting rookie Spencer Rattler in the starter’s role. The only thing keeping this line down is the fact the Bucs had to travel to New Orleans for the week on Monday to escape hurricane conditions. Won’t matter. Take the Bucs, 24-10.

Last week: 4-1 ATS, 4-1 straight up

Overall: 14-11 ATS; 16-9 straight up

Dale Lolley hosts The Drive on Steelers Nation Radio and writes a Sunday column for the Observer-Reporter.