Steelers benching QB Justin Fields would be a mistake

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The Steelers should stick with Justin Fields

I know, I know.

Wow, Jarrett is talking about Justin Fields again.

And sure, I’ve been a pretty heavy supporter of Fields this season, but there’s a reason for that – he’s played well.

Yet despite his play, Mike Tomlin acknowledged today that there is a chance Wilson will start Sunday vs. the New York Jets. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Wilson is expected to get first-team reps in practice, which would “put him in line to start.”

Nothing about a quarterback change makes sense for the Steelers. At the time of writing, Fields has 10 total touchdowns to just one interception. He has a higher EPA per play than Patrick Mahomes, a higher success rate than C.J. Stroud, and a higher CPOE than Josh Allen. All of that combined with the fact that the Steelers are 4-2 and have a share of the division lead and are coming off a 32-point performance in a 19-point win over the Raiders makes for there being no argument for a quarterback change.

And this isn’t me pounding the table saying that Fields is an elite quarterback. That’s another issue with today’s sports coverage. Fans think if you defend a guy that you think he’s the second coming. Fields hasn’t been great, but he has been good. The passing game has been on-and-off, but what he adds with his legs is the equalizer. The Steelers ran for 183 yards against the Raiders. Fields accounted for 59 of those yards and two touchdowns, including rushing for four first downs and getting 20 yards after contact. He leads all quarterbacks with five rushing scores, which is one more than Saquon Barkley. His 17 first downs on runs is tied for fourth amongst all quarterbacks, per Sports Info Solutions. That’s the extra dimension that Fields gives the offense and Russell Wilson simply does not. And Fields has done all of this with the worst collection of skill position players in the NFL and a banged up offensive line that has been dreadful at times.

And yet with all that, the Steelers are 4-2 and have lost their two games by a combined six points – and Fields put them in position to win in each loss, as well. If George Pickens doesn’t fumble in the red zone against the Colts and if the Steelers’ defense doesn’t give up a 15-play drive to lose the game, Pittsburgh is unbeaten right now. There is nothing to gain from taking the keys away from a 25 year-old explosive quarterback and giving them to a soon-to-be 36 year-old that is a stopgap at best. Stick with Fields.