The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL just three weeks into the season. They currently possess a 3-0 record and sit atop the AFC North. If the season ended today, they would be the number one seed in the AFC playoffs. A big reason for the Steelers starting the year undefeated is the defense, which has been absolutely dominant. They’ve only given up 8.7 points per game thus far. Another reason has been Justin Fields leading the offense and showing he may be the quarterback of the future in Pittsburgh.
The quarterback situation in Pittsburgh has been a hot-button topic ever since the organization brought in both Fields and Russell Wilson. There was some debate over who should start, and Wilson did end up winning the starting job throughout training camp, but he has been sidelined due to injury. Fields was thrust into the starting role right before the season opener. He hasn't lost in 2024 and has been able to improve week after week.
Many have spoken out about Fields, including Colin Cowherd. Cowherd has been low on the Steelers and Fields, despite their record being unblemished. On Cowherd's show on Monday, The Herd With Colin Cowherd, he came forward and admitted he was wrong about Fields.
"I didn't think you could win with one touchdown a week, but I was wrong on Justin Fields. Arthur Smith, he's coached out the reckless in him. Justin's still, he's not a guy that's sitting in the pocket and gonna throw you four touchdown passes, but he's had only one turnover all season."
Cowherd has talked down on Fields a ton in the past, especially during the 2024 offseason and at the beginning of the regular season. He was able to admit he was wrong on the quarterback after he had his best game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. Cowherd is still a media personality who always needs to sound like he is right, so he made sure to note that Fields can't be an elite pocket passer.
The Steelers’ offense hasn't lit up the score board, but it looks leaps and bounds ahead of where it was at during the 2023 season. In Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, the unit failed to find the end zone, but they have improved each week since. In a win over the Denver Broncos, the offense scored a touchdown early, and against the Chargers, they scored a touchdown in each half. Realistically, they could have scored more against Los Angeles had it not been for a turnover and then the Steelers kneeing the ball out at the one-yard line to end the game.
Fields' performance against the Chargers was definitely his best for the Steelers. It seems as though he has won over the team and the players are rallying behind him. Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has already come out and said that he thinks the organization has found their quarterback of the future, which is a good sign for a team that has been in quarterback purgatory ever since the retirement of Roethlisberger.
Steelers' Justin Fields Could Build On His Success Against The Colts
Pittsburgh has a good chance to go 4-0 as they prepare to play the 1-2 Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. The Colts’ defense is set up for the Steelers to be able to run the ball well, which should open things up for Fields in the passing game. Indianapolis is the second-worst team in the NFL when it comes to rush yards given up per game, and they are in the bottom half of the league in quarterback pressures. If Pittsburgh's offensive line can play like they did in the second half of the win over the Chargers, Fields should have another stellar performance.
