Photo: steelers.com
Steel City Underground presents our 2024 Steelers Recall: a look back at Pittsburgh Steelers games and storylines from last season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 7’s edition of Sunday Night Football amidst controversy. The return of Russell Wilson was met with criticism as the Steelers were led to a 4-2 record over the first six games of the season by QB Justin Fields. Fields, a former first round pick who was brought in as a backup after Wilson was signed and last year’s starter, Kenny Pickett, was traded, played mistake-free football and accounted for 10 total touchdowns over those six games.
However the Steelers put together the most complete game, as a team, that they’ve played thus far in the 2024 NFL regular season. The New York Jets didn’t make things easy, and Aaron Rodgers showed he still has some magic left in his veteran skill-set. Despite the Jets being the league’s second-best overall defense entering the game, the Steelers had playmakers across the board that didn’t fold under pressure. The Steelers defense didn’t fold and special teams were above par, too.
When head coach Mike Tomlin chose to start Wilson over Justin Fields, it may have been the gutsiest decision he has made in years. The Steelers fanbase was largely ready to toss Tomlin out with the bath water if Wilson didn’t make a major difference over the 4-2 record Fields had put together… even though Fields was just one player on a talented roster.
Wilson, who hadn’t played in a game since Christmas Eve of the 2023 season, had a lot to prove in his first start for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh Steelers live scores sites had the Steelers at as much as a 3-point underdog at home heading into Sunday night. Wilson started the game slow, completing 8-of-17 attempts for 145 yards and a touchdown before halftime. He would finish the game strong, however, completing eight of his next twelve attempts to finish the night 16-of-29 for 264 yards, two touchdowns passing and another touchdown rushing.
More surprising was the average yards-per-play for the Steelers: Steelers QB Russell Wilson was 9-12 for 157 yards utilizing play-action against the Jets. A passer rating of 116.7. Yards per attempt was 13.1, nearly three times as much yards per play as the Steelers were averaging on play-action in their first six games.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) October 22, 2024
One thing that has been missing from the play of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense through six weeks of play has been an effective passing game down the field. By the second half, Wilson was throwing touch passes to George Pickens, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Pat Freiermuth, and others as he read the Jets defense. Russ was dishing, and the offense was cooking.
Wilson also accounted for some of the longest plays the Steelers offense has seen within the same game in quite some time, with passes of 44, 37, 36, and 30 yards.
It was enlightening to see the Steelers play as a complete unit offensively, and do so in an upbeat, complimentary fashion. Wilson’s resurgence led to a coming out party for the Steelers stars on offense. One of those beneficiaries was Najee Harris, who ran the ball 21 times for 102 yards (4.9 average) and capped off the Steelers last offensive play in the closing moments of the fourth quarter with a touchdown. It would be Harris’ second-straight 100-yard game with back-to-back Steelers victories.
This would be Pickens’ second 100-plus yard game of the season, previously catching 7 passes for 113 yards against the Indianapolis Colts.
The defense also had a stellar game. On a night that saw Alex Highsmith return to the lineup, Watt double-teamed to the max, and both Montravius Adams and Donte Jackson leave the game due to injury, the Steelers defense adjusted their personnel package to try to shunt Breece Hall’s running abilities and limit Rodgers’ receivers.
An undrafted rookie in the black and gold stepped up and made a statement play that turned the tide in this game.
Imagine the rarity of seeing Rodgers throw not only one, but two interceptions on Sunday Night Football at Acrisure Stadium. Then imagine the surprise that both plays were made by the same player: Steelers rookie CB Beanie Bishop.
Bishop is not only a rookie, but an undrafted rookie that the Jets offense clearly wanted to bully in the game, but instead found the ball in 31’s hands on more than one occasion, including a pick and run that was returned a yards short of a touchdown.
It was a statement game for Bishop, who played a career-high 82% of the game.
On special teams, the Steelers had a blocked kick called back, but went out and blocked another field goal to make up for it. Jets K Greg Zuerlein would attempt a 35-yard field goal late in the third quarter, but would be thwarted by Steelers DE Dean Lowry. Like the theme of the evening, Lowry was also a former Packer, just not one who joined Rodgers and the Jets!
With that, the Steelers became the first team in the NFL with a blocked kick (punt, FG or XP) in three straight games since New England in 2017.
Lowry’s heads up play would aide the Steelers defense into shutting out the Jets in the second half.
With an all-out assault in all three phases of football, the Steelers would secure their second-straight victory with a decisive 37-15 score. They would improve to a 5-2 record on the season, which was also a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Super Bowl team in primetime.
Join us for our next Season Recall article as we see Pittsburgh host yet another New York team under the stadium lights, as the Giants came to town for Monday Night Football in Week 8.
