Justin Fields did just about everything right in replacing Russell Wilson.
He largely avoided mistakes. He went from game manager to difference maker. And he did it with an inherent calm that quickly won over his teammates.
It got to the point that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin opened the door for Fields to retain the starting quarterback job full-time, even after the calf injury that sidelined Wilson for a month is completely cured.
Asked if there was anything Fields could do to influence him further, Tomlin smiled.
“Play well,” the NFL’s longest-tenured coach said. “Win.”
Another chance for Fields to make his case awaits Sunday night when the Steelers (3-1) host the Dallas Cowboys (2-2).
The match will be a decisive test for both clubs. The Cowboys hope to prove they’re more the team that crushed Cleveland in Week 1 than the one that was outplayed in losses to New Orleans and Baltimore. Pittsburgh is sick after the NFL’s top-ranked defense was pushed around early by Indianapolis in a 27-24 loss last Sunday that dampened some of the early-season optimism surrounding its best start since 2020.
While Dallas will be without star passer Micah Parsons – who will miss the first game of his career due to injury following a high ankle sprain suffered against the New York Giants on September 26 – the Cowboys believe they have more than enough depth to get by.
“It’s a great opportunity for others,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “We’re excited about it. We took a step into New York, had the opportunity to catch our breath. Obviously, injuries are part of it. You never want to lose any of your guys, especially the best ones. This is a great opportunity to show the quality of our football team.
Ditto for Pittsburgh in a clash between two teams who know a little about the game under the lights. Dallas’ 106 prime-time victories are the most in NFL history. Pittsburgh is second with 98.
“When you look at two teams that everyone is rooting for back in the day, it’s always the Cowboys and the Steelers,” Pittsburgh linebacker Patrick Queen said. “‘Sunday Night Football,’ everyone watches, the moments that everyone lives for. So you have the whole world watching, what are you going to do about it?”
Coming home
McCarthy is a Pittsburgh native who grew up during the heyday of the four-time champion Steel Curtain Steelers in the 1970s. Two of those Super Bowl victories came against the Cowboys.
He was also a sports fan, so he remembers Pittsburgh Pirates icons Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, who won two World Series in the ’70s. And Heisman Trophy-winning running back Tony Dorsett, who led the University of Pittsburgh to the 1976 national championship.
“Those were great years,” McCarthy said. “Four Super Bowls, two World Series and a national championship. It was a great time to be a kid in Pittsburgh.
McCarthy visited Pittsburgh twice as Green Bay’s coach. He lost both times, although he led the Packers against his hometown team in the 2010 Super Bowl. And yes, he heard about it during his visit.
“I think one of the best compliments I can get is when I meet strangers there, they say to me, ‘If we were to lose one, I’m glad it was because of you’,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s a testament to being from (there). We’re a brotherhood.”
Ready to Run, Part 1
The Steelers are dedicated to running the football, even if they’re not particularly efficient at the moment. Pittsburgh’s 138 rushing attempts are tied for the NFL lead. Yet the Steelers are averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, which is only good for 26th in the 32-team league.
Tomlin downplayed his team’s sluggishness, attributing it to playing three of four on the road to start the season. He hopes things will eventually move forward.
“This is not going to dictate a change in behavior on our part as a collective in terms of how we prepare,” Tomlin said. “It is reasonable to expect that we will improve with more visibility and opportunities in this area.”
The running game could get a little boost with the return of veteran guard Isaac Seumalo after missing a month with a pectoral injury.
Ready to Run, Part 2
There is no indication the Cowboys will add Dalvin Cook to the 53-man roster despite having the worst rushing attack in the NFL. Rico Dowdle looks to be the main back after making 18 carries compared to just nine for Ezekiel Elliott over the last two games.
The Cowboys signed Cook to the practice squad just before the start of the season. The New York Jets used Cook sparingly in 2023 before a late-season exit, and the four-time Pro Bowler played in the first of two playoff games for Baltimore after the Ravens signed him.
Only the Cowboys
In a truly “Cowboys-only” moment, Jerry Jones’ helicopter landed on the practice field shortly before the start of Wednesday’s practice, allowing the Dallas owner to observe for about 20 minutes before heading out. at his office.
When asked if he had ever landed a helicopter during practice in his 30-plus years as an NFL coach, McCarthy responded, “Let’s be honest, he was almost late to the ‘training. I thought I was going to have to ride on his (rear). I was happy that he succeeded.
The helicopter moment came on defensive end KJ Henry’s first full day on the job for the Cowboys after being cut from Cincinnati’s practice squad.
“Is this like an everyday thing?” » Henry said he asked one of his new teammates. “I mean, it’s really Dallas.”
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AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.
