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PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson faked a handoff to Najee Harris and dropped back nine yards.
With ample time provided by those in front of him, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback stepped up and let it fly from his own 40-yard line.
The spiraling fourth-quarter pass dropped at the New York Giants’ 16, over nickelback Dru Phillips, playing man-to-man coverage, and out of the reach of closing single-high safety Jason Pinnock. Those two tumbled into the sideline together as George Pickens nabbed the football in stride, with less than two yards between him and the chalk.
It was a perfectly-placed ball, put where only Pickens could grab it.
It was a throw that evoked memories of prime Russell Wilson.
“It was a great route by him, honestly,” the veteran signal-caller said, deflecting the praise to Pickens, then his blockers. “Great protection. He made a heck of a route. Almost toe-tapped, stayed in, scored there.”
Guys. This is some vintage Russell Wilson Seattle stuff.pic.twitter.com/NwaNkaVjhS
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 29, 2024
In usual fashion, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ho-hummed the connection, saying, “Again, I’m getting used to taking a look at it. I know if you give George an opportunity, he’s going to come down with it. But Russ is doing a lot of things well.”
Really, in the 26-18 win, Russ began to look a lot like he did during the second half of his time in Seattle — the triggerman in full control of the offense he’s operating. Wilson completed 20 of 28 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown. He targeted eight different pass-catchers, involving a supporting cast that hadn’t chipped in much before Monday night.
Wilson had a 114.9 passer rating, his 98th regular-season game being graded at least 100.0, the most since he entered the NFL in 2012. Being more settled in after being out for the initial six weeks of the season probably has something to do with the resurgence.
“I felt more fluid,” Wilson said of Monday night. “I haven’t really missed many games in my lifetime. You miss five, six games, and you’re just, ‘Okay, alright, you got to get your rhythm.’ … I think the most important thing is just response. A relentless belief in one another, relentless faith in understanding that this game is a process. Each drive tells a story, each game tells a different story. You got to be able to adjust and move and respond.”
Wilson was largely unremarkable during two go-rounds in the Rocky Mountains. He went 11-19 as Denver’s starter behind center. The Broncos saw it fit to bench him, release him, and eat $85 million in dead cap.
In primetime at Acrisure Stadium, No. 3 in all black didn’t look like that same guy.
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