1 day Ago By Val Dewar
The 2024 regular season record of the Pittsburgh Steelers was not the only thing decided at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday night, as the compensation given to the Chicago Bears for the Justin Fields trade was also made official. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson's play continued to decline from its high mark in the middle of the season, as his squad fell to the AFC North’s third-place team, the Cincinnati Bengals, with Wilson throwing for under 150 yards (most of that coming in the fourth quarter) on 17-of-31 passing. Many fans called for Fields to return to the starting lineup for the first time since Week 6, both before and after the game due to the team's losing streak, which is now four straight as the team heads into the playoffs.
Fields went 4-2 as a starter compared to Wilson's 6-5. He accrued 1,106 passing yards, 289 yards on the ground, 10 total touchdowns, and gave away only one interception and three fumbles, slightly better than Russ' 18-8 touchdown-to-turnover ratio. However, Fields looked on from the sideline throughout the loss — and will do so again next week.
As a result, the former Chicago Bears first-round pick’s snap percentage for the season fell to around 36%, well below the halfway threshold which would have increased the compensation from a sixth-round pick to a fourth if it was met. There is no way this factored into head coach Mike Tomlin’s decision to switch to Russell Wilson as soon as he was healthy, nor to stay with him as his performance waned down the stretch, but it is still to the Steelers' advantage in the draft. Pittsburgh will hold their own picks in the first four rounds of the draft, as well as the Los Angeles Rams' fifth, the Houston Texans' sixth, and two seventh-round picks from the Eagles.
Of course, the Bears now own Pittsburgh's sixth-round selection thanks to the Fields trade. Unfortunately, the draft is what many in the Steel City may be wanting to think about right now, as a four-game losing streak to end the season does not bode well for the playoffs. However, the coaches and players that make up the team itself will not think that way.
The Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2017, a disappointing streak for a historically great organization. And that streak will become even more of a sore spot in Pittsburgh if the team exits in the first round once again. At one point, analysts discussed how much Wilson would cost for Pittsburgh to sign next year.
Now, pundits and fans alike are simply wondering if Fields should have played more in 2024, even if it cost the Steelers a slightly higher pick on Day three of the 2025 NFL Draft. MORE PITTSBURGH STEELERS NEWS Steelers' 2025 opponents revealed Russell Wilson roasted for pathetic final drive in Steelers loss Steelers fans furious at George Pickens after drop-filled game vs. Bengals.
