Steelers' Russell Wilson Put On Blast For Offensive Red Zone Struggles

Chris Boswell led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 18-16 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. The Steelers' offense didn't score a single touchdown during the game where the defense and special teams stepped up to win. Although Russell Wilson had 205 passing yards and has been playing relatively well since he started, he failed to convert a touchdown against a Ravens defense who has let up the most passing yards in the NFL. Wilson has allowed the offense to build on its passing game, but he'll need to finish out drives with touchdowns if he wants to make this offense more elite.

Wilson and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith highlighted these issues in their individual press conferences on Tuesday. Both agreed that each week is different on what the defense gives you, but they need to score touchdowns in the red zone. On NFL Live, ESPN Analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky brought up Wilson's struggles in the red zone. Orlovsky said he believes Pittsburgh's offense right now can't win them a Super Bowl.

"This defense in Pittsburgh can win a Super Bowl, this offense cannot," Orlovsky said. "Right now, Russel Wilson is the worst red zone quarterback in the NFL. I'll let that sink in. That's not an assumption, that's not an opinion, that's a fact. His QBR in the red zone is an eight."

On top of Wilson's QBR, he has a 39% red zone touchdown percentage from the graphic shown on NFL Live. The debate about Wilson versus Justin Fields has settled in general, but Fields had a 50% touchdown rate in the red zone and a QBR of 86. Going by numbers, Fields has had more success in the red zone and this is mainly because of his ability to run it in.

The question of a Fields package has come up since Wilson took the starting job. Smith told reporters Tuesday that Fields is a great player and hinted at a more larger role for Fields moving forward. It would be ideal to see Fields come in for crucial third down plays or in the red zone to give a greater chance at scoring and putting up touchdowns against teams. Orlovsky also raised a concern about the amount of sacks Wilson has taken over the past three weeks and how that concern about him starting is starting to show. 

"The other thing that's crept up, sacks," Orlovsky said. "The last three weeks, Russell Wilson's taken 11 sacks. That is... tied for fifth most in the NFL since Week 8. You're talking about the concerns that were kind of heading into the situation."

Whether it's the offensive line not playing its best, or Wilson taking too long to throw, Wilson needs to take less sacks during games. He'll have to manage to drive the offense down the field against Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns defense in Week 12.

Steelers' Russell Wilson Has Been Struggling Against Zone Coverage

Wilson's red zone struggles have been more common when defenses play zone coverage against the Steelers. This was shown a lot in the Ravens game in Week 11. Baltimore played a lot of zone, which caused Wilson to scramble and not be able to find an open receiver. Throwing the ball to George Pickens one-on-one when he's in man is an easy touchdown or completion for Wilson. That's where some of his success throwing touchdowns has been when he recognizes a defense in man coverage.

Orlovsky believes the zone defense issue won't be an issue in Cleveland as the Browns tend to play more man coverage. Wilson will have to take advantage of this and give the ball to his play-makers to prove he can get it done in the red zone.