Although Justin Fields' passing performance against the Las Vegas Raiders was mediocre, at best, his legs constituted an X-factor for the Pittsburgh Steelers which kept drives alive and got the quarterback in the end zone twice.
Fields completed 14-of-24 passes for 145 yards while adding another 59 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Steelers scored a season-high 32 points, but that was mostly a result of the defense, special teams, and the bumbling Raiders, who were nothing short of a mess on offense.
With Russell Wilson healthy but still on the sideline, Mike Tomlin has a decision to make at the position every week. Does he keep the 25-year-old with a promising future in? Or does he switch to the original starter, Wilson?
Although Wilson was maligned for his stint in Denver, he played quite well in the second year, passing for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against only eight interceptions.
However, he does not have the elite physical traits that Fields does. At 35, Wilson can't scramble like he used to, which could present a big problem when the Steelers' offensive line inevitably breaks down.
When forced to create on his own, Fields retains potential for excellence, which is why he has five touchdowns on the ground. With only one interception thrown all year and two fumbles lost, Fields has done enough to avoid having the starting job taken away from him.
He has led this team to a 4-2 record and has shown flashes of brilliance. Because of all that, he should be kept as the starter until the bye week, which is the appropriate time for such a major change.
Until Fields does something to lose the job, there is no real football reason to take it away from him.
