Fields of Dreams? Justin Proves worthy in win over Denver

In the NFL they say you should never lose your job to injury. However, there can be exceptions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers might be in that role. After beating the Denver Broncos 13-6 in Denver, Justin Fields was the starting quarterback for the second game in a row and Russell Wilson had to watch from the sidelines.

While still nursing an injured calf, Wilson was slated to be QB1 before the season began but by missing the first two games, he has opened the door for Fields to take over as the permanent starter. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has a difficult decision to make once Wilson is considered 100% healthy. Does he throw Wilson back under center or stick with the guy who has helped the team start the season with two straight victories?

My gut says Fields keeps the job, but I’m sure most of Steelers Nation still has that curiosity to see how Russell would fair as our starting quarterback. Wilson is a proven commodity and had a decent season with the Broncos in 2023 while Justin Fields struggled in Chicago. But sometimes environment changes the way a man plays and that appears to be the case for Justin Fields. While he has contributed to the only touchdown the offense has scored thus far, he has failed to make any major mistakes, he has not been sacked much, and the fumble-itis he experienced in Chicago has hardly raised its ugly face.

In Denver, Fields finished without throwing an interception, he fumbled once but did not turn it over, his quarterback rating was a solid 97.3, and he missed on just seven of 20 pass attempts for 117 yards. There is one thing that exists in the minds of most fans that make up Steelers Nation (yours truly) and that is we do not care about statistics. We crave victories and Super Bowls. So, if the offense is lighting up the scoreboard but the defense remains one of the best of the league shutting down every opponent, then who cares what the final score is? A win is win is a win.

With the win, the Steelers now at 2-0 are atop the AFC North for now and shockingly, the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals have yet to win sharing last place at 0-2. Cleveland went to Jacksonville in week two and won so they are in second at 1-1 but are far from impressive. The Steelers next have their home opener against the 2-0 Chargers, and this will be a real test for the defense facing an outstanding offense. But with that said, Los Angeles had a cake walk in week two against one of the worst teams in the league, the Carolina Panthers. 

While the offense plays ground and pound football, for the second game in a row they led in time of possession. The difference between clock time against the opponent was not as much as it was facing the Falcons, but Pittsburgh still led 32:19 to 27:41. But just as it was last season, this is all about the mighty Steelers’ defense. One difference this season is the offense is giving the defense a lead to protect and not having to come from behind. 

Who really cares how many points are on the board for Pittsburgh if the opposing team can’t crack the end zone? Just one touchdown surrendered in two games and only 16 points. Mike Tomlin has one of the league’s best records when playing a rookie quarterback and his team helped improve on that by beating Denver and rookie QB Bo Nix. Nix’s rating was a poor 55.2 and while he threw for 246 yards that was on 20 completions and 35 attempts. He was intercepted twice and sacked twice. The Steelers ‘D added seven QB hits. 

In their rushing attack the Broncos managed just 64 yards on the ground for a team per-carry average of just 3.4. Nix was the leading ground gainer with 25 yards and the next best was Javonte Williams who finished with a terrible mark of 17 yards on 11 carries. Josh Reynolds did manage to pierce the Steelers secondary for a 49-yard strike, but it did not result in a touchdown drive. 

With the victory, Pittsburgh is now 2-0 returning home for their opener in the ‘Burgh. In the last 10 seasons, 10 teams have begun their season by winning the first two games and eight of the last nine who have done so have made the playoffs. Throughout their history, the Steelers have started a season winning the first two games 20 times. The first occurrence came in 1936 just a few years after the franchise entered the league.

In 1936 after a 2-0 start, the team lost six of the next 10 and missed the post-season. The following year the Steelers did it again and finished 4-7. From 1978 to 1980 Pittsburgh started with two straight wins and won two Super Bowls. Two more Super Bowl championship seasons came in 2005 and 2008 after 2-0 starts. Prior to this season the last time Mike Tomlin began a campaign by winning the first two games was in 2020 and while his team made the playoffs, the Steelers lost in the wild card round.

This season’s team might be the most talent Mike Tomlin has ever had on a roster. The defense is easily his best yet. With 17 straight playoff seasons to begin his head coaching career, the start to this season has helped tremendously in extending that streak. Tomlin is closing in on the all-time record held by the legendary Tom Landry who had 20 consecutive winning seasons. Tomlin only trails Bill Belichick who had 19. If he can finish at .500 or better this year and then do it again in 2025, he will be tied with Belichick and be just one from tying Landry’s mark.

In the here and now it is the Los Angeles Chargers next with new coach Jim Harbaugh who has his team also at 2-0. With a home opener victory, the Steelers would prove that they are right at the top of the AFC’s best teams for the moment. With the Cleveland Browns hosting the New York Giants at home, they will most likely remain one game behind the Steelers if Pittsburgh can be victorious. 



The Baltimore Ravens who have the opposite record of the Steelers (0-2), are on the road in Dallas who will try to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints and can you imagine the Ravens going to 0-3 after being considered one of the AFC’s best in the preseason? Finally in the AFC North are the Cincinnati Bengals, also 0-2 but are home to play the Washington Commanders on a double header Monday Night Football. The Bengals should take that one and get their first win of the season.