Russ is back… and the Pittsburgh Steelers are finding a new formula

The chorus was so deafening that it was almost uncomfortable. Everyone in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania wanted the offensive coordinator gone. Chants of “FIRE CANADA” spread beyond Acrisure Stadium. Fans filling the Pittsburgh Penguins barn were soon shouting those two words in unison clap, clap, Clap/clap/clap in between. Still, Mike Tomlin assisted Matt Canada in 44 games over three seasons.

These Steelers famously endured a streak of 58 straight games without a 400-yard game on offense.

To this day, the key players in this offensive still don’t understand it. They loved Tomlin as their boss. They consider him one of the brightest football minds they have ever met. But his loyalty is both a virtue and a blind spot. Virtually everyone could see that Canada’s plan was both boring and predictable. The defense knew exactly what was coming.

Pittsburgh also didn’t have a quarterback capable of nullifying those Xs and O’s. After a fun series of comebacks in the fourth quarter of 2022, Kenny Pickett flopped 23.

Finally, Tomlin listened to this mockery. But that was the plan? His 2024 system reset on offense felt like short-sighted austerity.

The new OC (Arthur Smith) thought he could win games with Desmond Ridder in Atlanta, and the two new quarterbacks were treated like poison by most of the NFL. Denver swallowed $85 million in dead money to kick Russell Wilson out of the building. The Justin Fields trade market was a colossal flop. Typically, at the most important position in sports, you get what you pay for. Thinking about the Super Bowl requires premium draft capital or a bold (and costly) trade. In the conference of Mahomes And Allen And Building And Lamar And Stroud, This reeked of a crappy plan to put together another 17-13 wins. But Week 13 of the NFL once again suggested that Tomlin sees a different game than everyone else. Kirk Cousins, who costs $45 million per year, threw four interceptions. Former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence, who signed a record contract worth $55 million per year, saw his Jaguars drop to 2-10. Aaron Rodgers, who made $37.5 million per year, was once again terrible. He just got everyone fired this season. The Jets are 3-9. No functioning franchise should retain his services for 2025.

And here is the 36-year-old Wilson, enjoying his career day with a 44-38 win in Cincinnati for $1.2 million. It accounts for 0.47 percent of the team capitalization.

In ’21, ’22 and ’23, crossing midfield was often a transatlantic journey for the Steelers.

Now they’re winning shootouts against Joe Burrow.

Wilson was great, completing 29 of 38 passes for 414 yards with three touchdowns. He only threw one interception because the officials missed cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt WWE rip George Pickens by his helmet on the turf. Ten different players caught a pass. His sense of pressure. His touch layering throws downfield. Its accuracy. This looked like the Wilson who threw 40 touchdowns in Seattle four years ago. Ironically, this is when Ben Roethlisberger began to break down. Since then, Tomlin has been looking for ways to hide his quarterback. Nobody can fully utilize a squad like him.

The Steelers don’t need to hide Wilson. Maximizing this offense could lead to a legitimate run into the AFC playoffs. The obvious heavyweights of the conference are the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs. But as the calendar turns to December, the Steelers are positioning themselves as the biggest challenger.

Let’s all pour another cup of coffee and warm up our crow plates for breakfast.