This is what it can look like. The question is whether this formula can get them where they want to go.

The Steelers decisively ended their two-game losing streak in Sin City with a 32-13 win over the Raiders that left them with plenty of room to feel good about the way they looked at 4-2.

On offense, they entered the game with the same starting five along the offensive line for the second straight day – the first time this season – and the running game responded with its most productive performance of 2024 with 183 yards (more than 40 yards better than 141 against Denver ), a 5.2 average (more than 1 full yard better than the 4.1 against Indianapolis) and 3 rushing touchdowns (1 more than the 2 against Indianapolis).

With all due respect to the blocking generated by the combined efforts of the same five linemen as well as tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington and the good work of the guys on the perimeter, it was Najee Harris who did the heavy lifting. In fact, a better description would be that Harris made the carving.

Yes, Harris finished the game with 106 yards, a 7.6 average and a 36-yard touchdown, and it’s also true that he came into the game having ranked fourth in the NFL in broken tackles , increased his overall average yesterday. However, it should be noted that Harris’ 14 carries included gains of 13, 15, 26 and 36 yards, which are nice chunks for a 242-pound man.

And whatever the Raiders defenders had after that, Justin Fields sucked the remaining life out of them. Fields finished the game with 59 yards on 11 carries, but if you subtract the knockdowns in the victory formation, he had 7 runs/scrambles that were instrumental in securing the win. He converted a second-and-10 with a 14-yard run; a second-and-13 with an 18-yard run. And to cap the six-play, 30-yard drive that followed a takeaway, Fields ran 7 yards on first-and-10 at the Raiders’ 12-yard line; and for a 3 and a touchdown on fourth-and-1 from the 3-yard line.

NFL quarterbacks can typically be categorized as either mobile, scramblers, or runners. Since entering the NFL in 2021, only Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards than Fields and only Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen have more rushing touchdowns than him. Fields is a runner.

“I just thought it was a collective effort, not just the bigs but the perimeter guys as well,” coach Mike Tomlin said of the team’s running performance. “And of course Najee and everyone else. But I just thought, when you have a run output like that, it’s not an isolated case, it’s a collective. That breakout run (Harris’ 36-yard touchdown), I think (Pat Freiermuth) sealed that.” Corner and let him go. When I watched it, I just felt the collective energy and effort that was needed.

The question is whether Fields can even live in the same zip code as Jackson, Hurts and Allen as a passer, since the upcoming schedule will still include a home game against the Ravens, Bengals and Browns, as well as one-offs against Washington, Philadelphia and Kansas City shooting more than 14 of 24 (58.3 percent) for 145 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions and a rating of 75.9.

That’s because sometimes the defense has three takeaways – one of which was a fumble recovery at the opponent’s 30-yard line, one of which was a forced fumble at the 1-yard line, and one of which was an interception and return Opponent’s line is the opponent’s 7-yard line – but usually not. And sometimes special teams contribute a blocked punt, like against the Raiders, which is recovered at the opponent’s 9-yard line, but most of the time that’s not the case.

In cases where the defense and special teams aren’t making these types of contributions, the Steelers need an NFL-level passing game, and right now the word that best describes Fields’ passing game is “sometimes.”

Sometimes he sees it and makes throws on time and accurately, and sometimes one of those three elements is missing. By all accounts, Fields is a hard worker, coachable and a good teammate, but can he become a man who can see things and throw on time and on target most of the time, and is it even fair to say that? expect that to happen? Now. Because now the Steelers can put a defense on the field that consists of dynamic players at all levels of the unit as well as special teams that have a punter who averages 47.6 yards per yard, a placekicker who converts at 95.2 percent and units have blocked a field goal, etc. punt in the last two games.

For the first time this season, Russell Wilson was the No. 2 quarterback, and that distinction wasn’t given to him for perfect meeting attendance. Wilson was medically cleared to be a full practice participant, and coach Mike Tomlin liked what he saw.

“My ultimate goal was for him to be able to showcase his health and his ability to not only move but also protect himself. I felt really comfortable with what I saw there,” Tomlin said. “The rest of the equation is shaking off the rust and building a relationship, a relationship with the battery of receivers and things like that. And I thought it was a really good week from that perspective.”

At some point, Tomlin will reach the point where he has seen enough of Wilson to put the original plan at the quarterback position into action. As a reminder, here’s what Tomlin said about it a few days before the preseason game against Buffalo on August 17:

“(The depth chart at quarterback) is probably in the same place I described it all spring and summer. Both boys are vying for the role. Russ is in pole position because of the collective work, the totality of the work he brings is new to us. Through this process we will have the opportunity to get to know them. This will happen in the next few weeks and I am excited to see how it happens.”

That heat was cooled considerably by a recurrence of Wilson’s calf injury, which he suffered the day the players reported for training camp, and the veteran with 9 Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl win on his resume was an afterthought . But there are things about Wilson – the way he sees the field, his ability to make anticipatory throws, his infectious personality coupled with an inclusive mentality and an optimistic approach when it comes to his teammates – those are things that make him Make out put him in pole position and kept him there for the duration of the offseason program. His new teammates elected him captain.

It seems like the time is coming to reconsider all of this. Soon. And it’s because of “now.”

Now the Steelers must attack an 11-game stretch on a schedule more demanding than any other team’s during the same period. Now they have a defense and special teams that appear capable of fulfilling their obligations. Now they’re starting to get some of their hiking wounded back. Now the thing is, if they get enough wins in those 11 games to get where they want to go and then do what they need to do when they get there, it’s going to take more from the offense than a running game.

Finding out if Wilson has what it takes to be a difference make too much sense. It will happen because it has to happen. In the meantime, it’s always fun to beat the Raiders in their place once Terrible Towels has taken control.