It’s a good week to be a Steelers fan! Riding the high of a 37-15 win at home against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets, here are some gut reactions following this weeks’ game.

The Decision to Start Russell Wilson is Looking Great in Hindsight

Coming into Week 7, I admit I had concerns with Russell Wilson getting the start over Justin Fields for a plethora of reasons. Against a New York Jets team with a strong defensive front and with a Steelers offensive line battling injuries, it really felt like the wrong move to start the older, less mobile QB. This seemed to especially hold true given that Justin Fields had gotten the Steelers off to a 4-2 start. For most of the first half, I felt as though my concerns were valid. However, as the game continued on, Wilson seemed to get more comfortable, and his play only got better. As Cris Collinsworth mentioned too many times for viewers to forget on Sunday night, Wilson threw some great touch passes or “moon balls”, if you will, that allowed for several huge splash plays downfield to receivers. This is something that was significantly improved over the last 6 games with Fields at the helm. The passing attack had a different feel to it, and this seemed to only open up the running game more.

I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong, and although it was only one game, I am happy to be proven wrong thus far. Don’t look now, but could the Pittsburgh Steelers be “dangeRuss” down the stretch?

Welcome to the NFL, Beanie Bishop

What a story for an undrafted rookie from West Virginia. To have your first two career interceptions be against a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers?!! And to shift momentum for your team in crucial situations that seemed to change the course of a game? Not too shabby for an undrafted kid with a dream.

Although it was just one game, I think it certainly was an important one for Bishop. Perhaps the coaching staff trusts him even more to execute when he is called upon, and it will be fun to continue to watch his growth as a player. For the Steelers, Bishop’s performance has to feel good and further solidify that the secondary, as well as the rest of the defense, is more than adequate to perform against any team in the NFL. As a fan, as different players in the secondary are able to make plays week after week, it quiets the concerns that were raised coming into the season about that unit; it makes the team even more fun to watch on Sundays.

Another Slow Start Raises Some Concern Despite a Great Win

Once again, similar to weeks past, the Steelers started the game out slow and trailed throughout the first half. The last few minutes of the first half and the second half may have belonged to Pittsburgh, but if this continues, will there be an opponent that the Steelers will not be able to catch up to if they start slow? I think it is a possibility and again is something that should be addressed, especially if this team wants to chase a potential playoff run. With the improvement on the offensive side of the ball over the last few weeks, including 30+ points in two straight games and two very strong performances from Najee Harris, perhaps this issue will sort itself out. I suppose only time will tell.

Superpowers on Special Teams

The special teams unit played a spectacular game all around. A blocked field goal, a should-have-counted blocked extra point, and another strong outing from Chris Boswell all somehow occurred in 60 minutes of football. The icing on the cake was a strong outing by running back Jonathan Ward, who made a nice hit during a kickoff inside the 30-yard line and got directly in the face of Jets punt returner Xavier Gipson, resulting in a muffed punt. It seems like a lot of times special teams to not get the attention or credit that they deserve, but this unit absolutely needed to be talked about after that performance. Props to Danny Smith for preparing such a well-coached unit.