Steelers Quarterback Justin Fields Nears Personal Record with Potential Three-Game Winning Streak
ICARO Media Group
In an impressive turn of events, Justin Fields, the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback, is on the cusp of achieving a three-game winning streak as a starter for the first time in his professional career. After accumulating only ten victories in his three seasons as the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback, Fields has already secured two wins in his short stint with the Steelers. If the team emerges victorious in their upcoming Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Fields will achieve this remarkable milestone.
However, it's not just the winning streak that Fields has the opportunity to accomplish. In the past two games, he has managed to avoid throwing any interceptions or losing fumbles, a trend rarely seen in his previous performances. Additionally, Fields has successfully evaded being sacked more than twice in consecutive games, which is a significant improvement for the rookie quarterback.
Fields' impressive performances have also been reflected in his passer ratings, with respective ratings of 91.9 and 97.3 in the first two weeks. These exceptional ratings have only been achieved once during his time with the Bears, highlighting the newfound consistency and efficiency of his play.
The Steelers' aerial scoring ability, however, has been lackluster in recent years. Since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the team has only managed to accumulate 26 touchdown passes over 36 regular-season games. To put this into perspective, Russell Wilson amassed the same number of touchdown passes in just 15 games last season alone, while eight other NFL quarterbacks surpassed this figure.
In terms of their overall performance, the Steelers have historically had a strong track record, with few losing seasons in the past two decades. A 2-0 start to the season has been a rarity for the team, having occurred only seven times since 2000. The encouraging news for Steelers fans is that they have made the playoffs after each of those stellar starts. Only once in the past twenty years have the Steelers started 2-0 and not won at least 11 games, as they went 10-6 in Mike Tomlin's inaugural season in 2007. In fact, the Steelers have won their division five out of the last six times they started the season 2-0 under Tomlin, an impressive feat.
Furthermore, the Steelers' defensive players have shown commendable performances in recent games. Minkah Fitzpatrick and Patrick Queen have both played every snap, displaying their resilience and commitment. On the offensive side, rookie Jaylen Warren has found himself on the field more often than his counterpart Najee Harris, demonstrating the coaching staff's confidence in his abilities.
While the Steelers' offensive line has garnered considerable attention this season, one player who has flown under the radar is James Daniels. With two stellar performances to kick off the season, Daniels has emerged as the team's highest-graded player, according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the tentative plan to let him walk in free agency, Daniels is making a compelling case to remain a crucial part of the franchise's future with his impressive play.
As the Steelers prepare for their highly anticipated Week 3 matchup against the Chargers, all eyes will be on Justin Fields as he seeks to solidify his first-ever three-game winning streak as a starter. With the quarterback's remarkable progress and the team's overall consistency, Steelers fans are optimistic about their chances of success this season.
Chris Adamski is a respected TribLive reporter who has been covering the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014. With expertise and insight into the team, his coverage provides valuable analysis for football enthusiasts. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.