It did not take lengthy for Russell Wilson to enter the Steelers‘ report guide. Throughout Pittsburgh’s 37-15 win over the New York Jets, Wilson threw for essentially the most yards ever for a beginning quarterback making his Steelers debut.
On Sunday evening, Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns on 16 of 29 passing. In line with NBC Sports activities, Wilson broke the mark that was beforehand held by Earl Morral, who threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns throughout his Steelers debut that befell means again on September 29, 1957 (the Steelers beat Washington that day, 28-7, in case you had been questioning).
There’s some irony in Wilson breaking a report held by Morral in a sport that was performed in opposition to the Jets. Morrall was the Colts‘ beginning quarterback when the Jets shocked the Colts in Tremendous Bowl III in what is taken into account to be the best upset in professional soccer historical past. Morrall was on the fallacious aspect of historical past that evening, however he made up for it later in his profession by serving to the Colts win the Tremendous Bowl two years later. He then went 10-0 (together with the playoffs) in aid of injured quarterback Bob Griese through the 1972 Dolphins‘ good season.
Like Morral, Wilson is a Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback who has loved a protracted, fruitful profession. On Sunday evening, Wilson confirmed that he nonetheless has one thing left within the tank after many questioned Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s resolution to start out Wilson over Justin Fields, who was stable in aid of Wilson whereas serving to information Pittsburgh to a 4-2 begin.
Wilson wasn’t good in opposition to the Jets. He was truly simply 8 of 17 within the the primary half and at one level led three drives that led to three-and-outs. However, as Wilson confirmed on Pittsburgh’s fifth drive, he nonetheless has the most effective contact passes within the NFL, as his 44-yard completion to George Pickens helped arrange the Steelers’ second rating of the evening.
That completion appeared to ignite a spark in Wilson and the Steelers’ offense. After falling behind 15-6, the Steelers ended the sport with 31 unanswered factors, with Wilson accounting for 3 of these scores. He threw landing passes to Pickens and fellow wideout Van Jefferson whereas additionally scoring on a 1-yard landing run.
Wilson additionally showcased his accuracy on this dime to tight finish Pat Freiermuth that helped arrange Pittsburgh’s go-ahead rating.
Wilson was aided all evening by a protection that recorded two picks of Aaron Rodgers (that the offense changed into 14 factors), a particular groups unit that recorded its ninth blocked kick since 2022 (essentially the most within the NFL over that span), an offensive line that supplied sturdy safety and a working sport that churned out 149 yards, with Najee Harris main the best way along with his second straight 100-yard outing.
Wilson was clearly proud of Sunday’s end result, because the Steelers performed complementary soccer whereas beating a workforce that was favored to beat them. He was fast so as to add, although, that nearly as good as Pittsburgh regarded on Sunday, they’re removed from being a completed product.
“We’re able to rather a lot, collectively,” Wilson mentioned throughout his postgame interview with NBC Sports activities. “We left rather a lot on the desk. There’s much more to go get. We all know that, and we imagine that. We’re simply going to maintain getting higher.”