The Pittsburgh Steelers edged out the struggling Denver Broncos with a narrow 13-6 victory on Sunday, marking their second consecutive road win to kick off the season.
Quarterback Justin Fields stepped in once more for the injured Russell Wilson, who missed his second consecutive game due to a calf injury.
This game was meant to be a homecoming for Russell Wilson, who had spent the previous two seasons with the Denver Broncos before being let go by Coach Sean Payton. Instead, Justin Fields made his second consecutive start, struggling once again as the defense secured a hard-fought win.
Despite not stepping onto the field, Wilson received the game ball from Coach Mike Tomlin, a gesture acknowledging his past contributions.
“It felt good to get him a win,” Fields remarked about Wilson’s return to Denver.
Fields finally notched his first touchdown pass of the season, completing 13 of 20 attempts for 117 yards without any interceptions, as the Steelers secured their third consecutive victory over the Broncos.
“It’s always tough to win in this league, so starting 2-0 with two road games is a solid achievement,” Fields said. He had previously won his first start 18-10 at Atlanta in a performance that was effective but not spectacular. “But we need to improve. We have to cut down on penalties and overall mistakes. I need to be better too.
“With our defense playing the way it is, if we can get our offense rolling and score 28 points or more, we’ll be in great shape.”
In Week 1, Fields was unable to find the end zone during an 18-10 win at Atlanta, where kicker Chris Boswell was the standout with six field goals. On Sunday, Fields struggled with efficiency, leading four drives that ended in three-and-outs and two that stalled with four-and-outs. His sole successful drive occurred in the first quarter when he connected with tight end Darnell Washington for a five-yard touchdown. This play capped a 12-play, 78-yard drive that consumed 7:34 of the clock.
Wilson’s availability for Sunday’s home opener against the L.A. Chargers remains uncertain, with Coach Tomlin set to make a decision later this week. The game between the Steelers and Chargers is scheduled to kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET.
