Quarterback Russell Wilson notched a fifth win across six starts as he guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to an impressive 44-38 victory at the Cincinnati Bengals this past Sunday, improving first-place Pittsburgh to 9-3 on the season.
Former signal-caller and current analyst Chase Daniel believes the version of Wilson who torched the Bengals can keep the Steelers playing through February.
“Russell is becoming that missing piece and they’re showing that they can compete for a Super Bowl,” Daniel said about the Steelers during FS1’s “The Facility” program, Joe Clark of Steelers Depot shared. “So for me, when I look at what Russ has done on the field, you gotta look at what he’s done off the field, too. That leadership aspect that he’s bringing already in a leader-led locker room, because the leaders mostly are on defense…He comes in, he’s the leader on that offense. I think he’s playing some of the best ball we’ve seen.”
The Steelers selected Wilson as a team captain long before he returned from a lingering calf injury that kept him out of action over the season’s first six weeks. While he helped a 4-2 Pittsburgh side get to 8-3 before the Cincinnati game, some wondered last week if head coach Mike Tomlin could soon return to Justin Fields as the starter amid the team’s offensive red-zone struggles.
Wilson then silenced such chatter when he completed 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards with three touchdowns and an interception against the Bengals. According to Pro Football Reference, he began Tuesday ranked second in the NFL among qualified players with 271.0 passing yards per game and fifth with a 104.3 passer rating for the season. He tossed 10 touchdown passes and three interceptions over his first six games with Pittsburgh.
“When you look at what [Wilson] is doing to this franchise,” Daniel said, “he’s revitalized that offense. He’s added another layer to that offense that really, Justin Fields couldn’t add, and that is the deep ball.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Steelers as six-point favorites for this coming Sunday’s home game against the 3-9 Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh fell to Cleveland back on Nov. 21, so Wilson and company should have revenge on their minds when they walk into Acrisure Stadium for the divisional showdown.
