Russell Wilson’s career has been labeled dead after a disastrous stint with the Denver Broncos.
Instead, he’s the quarterback of a Pittsburgh Steelers team, which is coming off a shootout victory over a division rival.
Wilson’s revival was on full display Sunday as he led the Steelers to a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The point total was Pittsburgh’s highest since scoring 52 against the Panthers in 2018. The win put Pittsburgh (9-3) one game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens (8 -4) for first place in the AFC North.
Wilson played a vital role in Sunday’s offensive outburst on a three-touchdown day. He overcame an early pick 6 that gave the Bengals a 7-0 lead.
After pick 6, Wilson led the Steelers on five straight field goals that gave the Steelers a 27-21 lead. He ultimately sealed the victory with a 43-yard pass to Van Jefferson that kept a field goal alive and allowed the Steelers to burn valuable fourth-quarter clock.
Wilson bounces back from early mistake
The Steelers responded to the first pick 6 with a touchdown drive that ended with a 17-yard touchdown run by George Pickens on a screen pass from Wilson. Wilson’s second touchdown was a 23-yard strike to Calvin Austin III over the Cincinnati secondary.
In the third quarter, Wilson relied on the mobility that became his trademark as a Pro Bowler with the Seahawks. Facing pressure on second and five, Wilson got into the pocket and found tight end Pat Freiermuth sitting in a weak spot in the Bengals’ zone. Freiermuth completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 34-24 late in the third quarter.
A defensive touchdown extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 41-24 before the Bengals put the pressure back on the Steelers with a touchdown pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins.
The Steelers responded with an 11-play, 72-yard field goal that took 4:46 off the clock in the fourth quarter and extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 44-31. Wilson kept the drive alive on third-and-9 with a 43-yard pass to Jefferson in the red zone.
The Bengals responded with a quick touchdown drive to cut their deficit to 44-38 with 2:39 left. But a faulty in-game clock allowed the Steelers to run out the clock in the victory.
