DENVER — In Week 2, Justin Fields had the best half the Pittsburgh Steelers have seen since Ben Roethlisberger. And if you take away the costly penalties, he and George Pickens would have beaten arguably the best cornerback in football with four catches, 85 yards and a touchdown — all before halftime.
Fields finished the Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos 13/20 for 117 yards and a touchdown, with 27 rushing yards. It wasn’t a stat that speaks for anything, but when you watched the game, it was the only time other than Mason Rudolph last season that you felt like this offense was being led by a quarterback who could win.
The second half was problematic. The Steelers couldn’t move the ball, they went out of bounds three times and only got within field goal range for Chris Boswell once.
But honestly, you sat there and watched and thought it wasn’t Fields’ fault. The offensive line was nowhere to be seen and the plays were simple and rather unassuming. The group was almost doomed to fail, and they did, while still holding on to the win.
It’s the first half that people will remember, though. An over-the-shoulder touchdown pass to Darnell Washington. He escapes the pocket and hits George Pickens 50 yards down the run, only to have the ball taken away by a hold. Another 30-yard dime to Van Jefferson, which he caught almost one-handed while being held back by Broncos’ DB Riley Moss. The escape around the cornerback for 16 yards to keep a scoring drive alive.
The first half of Week 2 was the most promising half of the Steelers’ quarterback play, with a player who could be the future. There are already reports that Fields will start in Week 3, and there should be no doubt about that. He deserves another week, and after what he did in the first half against Denver, his next jump is likely to be even more special.
Fields has shown the Steelers at every turn that he still has a lot to offer. After a poor start, he became more reliable in training camp. He took a leap forward and didn’t play sporadically when he was needed in Week 1 and looked like an elite quarterback in the first half of Week 2.
Only time will tell what Week 3 brings, but the Steelers can be excited about what’s to come. Fields is at the point where he can’t be shut down.
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