The Pittsburgh Steelers are stumbling into the playoffs, and honestly, it’s a beautiful sight for the Baltimore Ravens.
After falling 19-17 to the Bengals on Saturday night, Pittsburgh wrapped up the regular season with their fourth straight loss—hardly the momentum you want heading into January. And at the center of it all? Russell Wilson, whose late-season implosion has Steelers Nation wondering if the team made a colossal mistake ditching Justin Fields.
Let’s rewind. Fields started the year at 4-2, showing flashes of a dynamic dual-threat quarterback while keeping things steady for Pittsburgh. But then came the big switch: the Steelers handed the keys to Wilson, hoping his veteran savvy could take them to the next level. For a while, it looked like they made the right call. Wilson went 6-1 out of the gate, and the Steelers seemed like a lock for the AFC North crown.
Fast forward to now, and things are a mess. Wilson’s performance against Cincinnati was emblematic of his recent struggles—148 passing yards, one touchdown, and zero reasons for optimism. The offense was flat, the defense was gassed from spending nearly 40 minutes on the field, and any sense of swagger Pittsburgh had earlier in the year is long gone.
The Steelers are left to wonder "what if" with Justin Fields
Fields wasn’t lighting the world on fire during his stint as the starter, but he was getting the job done. He posted a respectable 4-2 record, added an element with his legs, and protected the football. His reward? A demotion to backup. Meanwhile, Wilson has been inconsistent and outright bad during this four-game skid.
Over his last four games, Wilson is averaging just 174.5 passing yards and one touchdown per game while completing a paltry 58.7% of his throws. For context, those numbers are more “rookie learning the ropes” than “former Super Bowl champion.” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin might not admit it, but you have to wonder if he’s second-guessing his decision to bench Fields, especially with the playoffs looming.
Even the Steelers’ usual physicality seems to be missing. On Saturday, they couldn’t pick up a yard on two straight plays before halftime—getting stuffed on both a Wilson sneak and a Jaylen Warren run. The Bengals capitalized on the short field to tack on a field goal, and Pittsburgh never fully recovered.
From the Ravens' perspective, this Steelers collapse is about as satisfying as it gets. A month ago, Pittsburgh looked like a serious threat to take the AFC North. Now, they’re limping into the postseason as either the fifth or sixth seed, with a quarterback who’s playing like he left his prime in Seattle.
Sure, they’re still in the playoffs, but let’s be honest: does anyone think this Steelers team can make a deep run? Whether they face Baltimore or Houston in the Wild Card round, their current form suggests a quick exit is more likely than another Lombardi Trophy.
The Steelers rolled the dice on Wilson, and it’s starting to look like that gamble might sink their season. You can’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if they’d stuck it out with Fields. Sure, Wilson’s probably got the safer floor, but his ceiling? Not so much. He hasn’t been a true difference-maker in years, and now the Steelers are finding out just how limited he is—right when it matters most. Fields might’ve given this offense the spark it’s missing, but the world will never know. Bummer.
Meanwhile, Baltimore is rolling into the playoffs piping hot with an MVP-caliber Lamar Jackson and home-field advantage in the first round. What a difference a couple of weeks can make.
