The Pittsburgh Steelers have fallen to 10-6 and into a Wild Card spot in the AFC for the playoffs. It's disappointing for Steeler Nation as before a three-game skid, the Steelers were sitting two games ahead of the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North and poised to win the division. The team was playing well all around and it looked like this season would be different. However, both sides of the ball have faltered and at bad times, as December is the month for teams to get hot and carry that momentum into the postseason. Some fans are already questioning personnel on this team, especially after Steelers players sounded off Wednesday after the game on Christmas Day.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Russell Wilson drops back to make a pass against the Ravens in Week 16.
After a 414-yard performance in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Russell Wilson seemed to be getting more comfortable with Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's offense each week. The offensive unit looked great together, but the past three games have been a different story. Wilson isn't producing the numbers like he was, but granted he was without his top wide receiver George Pickens for a few games.
.@AdamSchefter breaks down Russell Wilson's future with the Steelers ✍️ pic.twitter.com/YEmScGNPji
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 26, 2024
Wilson's future has been a topic the past few weeks as he's only on a one-year deal with the Steelers. ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter talked on Get Up Thursday morning about where the Steelers organization is at. Some have put into question if Wilson is worth being the quarterback in Pittsburgh as he realistically only has a few good years left in him. Schefter gave more insight on Wilson's situation.
"They'd like to go ahead and keep Russell Wilson and re-sign him and keep him in Pittsburgh," Schefter explained. "Even if they couldn't, what would you want them to do with the quarterback position? Who's going to be out there that's going to be an upgrade over Russell Wilson right now? There are two logical first round quarterbacks in the [NFL] Draft, you're not going to get either one of those. The top free agent quarterbacks are going to be Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson. Is there another quarterback in the trade market that all of a sudden's going to spring free? Probably not. So, this is where the Steelers are."
The Steelers already tried to get their young rookie quarterback in the draft with Kenny Pickett in 2022. That didn't work out, but the quarterback room still got upgraded in the 2024 offseason with the signing of Wilson and Justin Fields. Fields' future in Pittsburgh is still unknown as he can either re-sign with the team and learn under Wilson, or go somewhere else and potentially be a starting quarterback.
Some fans may still want Fields as he's younger and quicker on his feet. However, the aspect that sticks out the most between Fields and Wilson is their passing games. Wilson throws one of the best deep balls in the NFL and with his veteran mindset, he's poised to make smarter decisions. Although, the past couple of games, Wilson has made some poor decisions and has been pressured a lot.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' defense tackles a Ravens player during a Week 11 matchup.
Schefter also noted the main area the Steelers will be focusing on going into the next season. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is a defensive minded coach and his main focus usually is his defense. Schefter revealed that the Steelers will look to fill the roster with players who can create turnovers and win that battle.
"They gotta find a way to build out the roster and get the turnover battle that they haven't been able to get to be able to compete with the top teams," Schefter said. "They're not getting turnovers, they're not gonna win. In the last three weeks, they have lost to three superior teams when they haven't gotten turnovers, when they've played flat, they haven't executed the fundamentals, when they haven't done the small little things that make the difference. They're a good team, they're just not with the big boys right now."
Pittsburgh's defensive unit has played poorly the past few games when it's supposed to be known as an elite defense in the NFL. Steelers players are clearly getting frustrated on defense as the mistakes they're making are ones that are made in Week 1, not Week 17. There are some good playmakers on the defensive side, but the communication hasn't been there and it's unknown exactly whose fault that is. Hopefully this team can turn it around and show some positive change as they have two guaranteed games left of the season.
JARED WICKERHAM / PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Steelers' offense huddles before a play against the Ravens in Week 16.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Isn't Getting Much Time In The Pocket
Wilson has been struggling recently, but it's clear that he's not getting much time in the pocket. The offensive line hasn't been there for him and although they're a younger group, it's hard to create plays when Wilson doesn't have time to throw the ball and can't run as fast as he used to.
Some of the play-calling may be a problem as well as the routes for wide receivers are deep down the field and take time to develop. Smith needs to realize that against the top teams in the NFL, there needs to be short passes to get your way down the field. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs showcased that perfectly during Wednesday's matchup.
Do you think Wilson is the answer for the Steelers' foreseeable future? Let us know in the comments below!
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