Steelers 37, New York Jets 14
October 20, 2024
Acrisure Stadium
Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t hesitate when asked about quarterback Russell Wilson’s performance against the Jets on Sunday Night Football.
“I thought he was excellent,” said Tomlin.
Wilson finished the night completing 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in his first regular season game in a Steelers uniform, after dealing with a calf injury for the first six weeks.
“I thought he got better as the game went on,” said Tomlin. “I’m not surprised by that. It’s been a while since he played some ball, but I thought he settled in, knocked the rust off, man, and distributed the ball around and played well.”
Wilson said it felt good to get back on the field, even if the game got off to a little bit of a slow start for him as he was shaking off the rust. He kept his head steady, knowing things would come around.
“I really believe in being neutral, not being too high, not being too low,” said Wilson. “My old mental coach, who passed away a couple years ago, used to always say stay the course. I think coming into this game, we had a couple of things earlier (in the game) that we could have had. I felt like it was playoff baseball out there in the sense of I started off 0-2, but it felt like I was going to get hot. I kept telling Coach, hey, I’m going to get hot here and sure enough we did.
“We did a great job. The guys did a tremendous job up front giving me enough time to make throws. Guys made plays down the field. I think it’s just the love of the game. I played so many games and every game is different. Every game has its own story, and every game has different moments in it, and you catch the wave and once you find it, you don’t let go.”
Wilson connected with receiver George Pickens for five receptions for 111 yards, but he also spread the ball around to seven players, each one who made their own impact.
“George is so talented, he makes it easy on the quarterback,” said Wilson. “He knows how to get open. He knows how to make plays, his ability to make contested catches is remarkable. We got a lot of confidence in all the guys we have, man. I think Calvin (Austin III) made a huge play near the end. Pat Freiermuth on the big third downs, we started making some big-time plays and with Van Jefferson getting in the end zone there too.
“When it all works together as one, when the offensive line is doing a tremendous job like they did tonight, I think it’s the second straight game for Naj (Najee Harris) going over a hundred plus.”
Tomlin is the one who made the decision to go with Wilson as the team’s starting quarterback on Sunday, over Justin Fields who led the team to a 4-2 record.
“We are in a tremendous situation where we are,” said Wilson. “I think there’s a lot of outside noise that makes it seem like it’s a negative thing and this rivalry internal and it’s not. We just want to win. That’s what we’re focused on.”
With the lights on for Sunday Night Football, the Steelers did just what Tomlin talked to his team about ahead of the game.
They played ‘A-player’ ball.
It was up and down the roster that ‘A-player’ ball was on display in the win.
“Nothing like primetime football at Acrisure,” said Tomlin. “I’m just really appreciative of the atmosphere and the quality of play. Thought we got stronger as the game went on in all three phases, man. We made plays in all three phases.
“We talked about A-player performance, particularly on stages such as this, primetime television and so forth. I just thought we had a lot of guys that displayed A-player characteristics.
“We’re just appreciative of the work that was done to make the night what it was. Hopefully there’s growth in this as we move forward, man, but it’s good to get a win.”
It was all three phases that came through on the night, including special teams that made a splash play when defensive lineman Dean Lowry blocked a field goal in the third quarter. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had a blocked PAT in the game, but it was nullified by a penalty for leverage. It’s the third straight game the Steelers have blocked a kick.
“We’ve got a block culture here that we embrace, and we embrace it with our work during the course of the week,” said Tomlin. “We’ve got a lot of guys that put a lot of effort into the techniques that’s required to deliver and so I’m just appreciative of that.
“It’s pretty awesome. It is significant, and it has been. I’m appreciative.”
Rookie defensive back Beanie Bishop, who was undrafted out of West Virginia, had a night to remember against the Jets.
Bishop didn’t just have his first career interception, but had two interceptions against Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Fame quarterback.
“Can’t say enough about young Beanie Bishop,” said Tomlin. “That’s an awesome evening for him to get his first two interceptions versus a Gold Jacket guy like Aaron Rodgers.
“He’s grown in all areas, there’s a lot to cover when you’re a rookie, but the one thing I’ll say about him is he never shrinks. The situations aren’t too big for him, and he’s learned and he’s open to learning. He has good questions. I meet with him every Friday morning as we lean in on situational ball. He’s doing a lot of the little things well. He’s on a good trajectory.”
Bishop’s first interception came in the second quarter, when he picked off Rodgers at the Steelers 46-yard line, down 15-6. The offense was able to capitalize, with Russell Wilson engineering a four-play, 54-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Pickens, sending the Steelers into the half down just 15-13.
After the Steelers took a 16-15 lead early in the third quarter, Bishop came through again. He intercepted Rodgers at the Jets 42-yard line, returning it 41 yards before getting caught at the one-yard line. Wilson took it in from the one on a quarterback sneak to extend the lead to 23-15.
“He’s one of the Hall of Fame quarterbacks,” said Bishop. “Got a lot of respect for that guy and just to be able to get not one but two of them off of him is crazy.”
Running back Najee Harris had his second 100-yard game of the season against the Jets, with 21 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Harris was relentless all night, turning in his second straight 100-yard performance, on a night that was about a full team effort, especially giving love to his offensive line, who have been hit with injuries all season.
“That’s what you want to see,” said Harris. “To see GP (George Pickens) get into the end zone. You see Russ (Wilson) in there in the end zone. To see the O-line meshing. They’re out there talking too, and they’re out there holding each other accountable, that’s the main thing. They were out there holding each other accountable.
“This is the O-line. I think that this game offensively should be…the O-line should be more talked about. We’re down injuries, we’re down guys and it’s the next-man mentality and someone always steps up and performs and makes a play. They’re all held at the same accountability, so I think that the O-line, going in two weeks now, me personally, I had like 100 yards, and it’s all dedicated to them in giving me opportunities. So, shout out to them.”