The Pittsburgh Steelers are lame ducks heading into the 2025 NFL postseason. Unlike what this team experienced after their win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 14, it is a complete turnaround that they have lost their final four regular season games and a chance at another AFC North Division title. After dropping from the favorite to win the division to the least intimidating wild card player, it’s time to bench starting quarterback Russell Wilson in favor of Justin Fields.

The Steelers have a number of problems ahead of them heading into the postseason, but at the top of their list is their problem at QB. When Wilson first took over the starting job, his experienced presence and accuracy in the air was a welcome change and a significant improvement for the offense. They rattled off four straight victories with Wilson in the middle, putting themselves in an advantageous position to capture their division.

However, after those four wins, Wilson and the Steelers’ offense has gone from new and improved to stagnant and stale. Injuries have hampered them and their offensive line has faltered in recent weeks, but no problem is more persistent than Wilson’s decline in play.

In his last four games, Wilson has been a completely different and much less effective QB. Five weeks ago he passed for over 400 yards in the air with the Cincinnati Bengals. He hasn’t shot more than 217 since then. Even in the team’s only win in the last four weeks, Wilson only threw for 158 yards. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, he was completely slowed down and threw for a season-low 128 yards. Against the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, he didn’t fare much better in the following weeks, failing to catch more than two touchdown passes or 217 yards.

Wilson’s biggest concern right now is his problems with ball losses. He has had at least one giveaway in each of the last three games, including back-to-back games with an interception and a fumble. It’s the exact opposite of why they reached out to Wilson in the first place.

Another glaring problem is the way the offense operates under Wilson. It started off as a smooth process, but that has evaporated. They were uncoordinated, undisciplined and disorganized in almost every offensive.

This is most evident during the team’s two-minute practice and rush-up offense. They waste valuable seconds by not putting the ball out of bounds and taking sacks instead of throwing the ball away. Her receivers are guilty of not extending their running routes and getting back to the ball, but Russ is equally guilty of failing to protect the ball and making rash decisions when time is of the essence. It’s a hopeless recipe that the Steelers don’t want to accept.

The Steelers now have a more athletic QB who has performed just as well as Wilson, who recently sat on the bench. It would be one thing if Wilson crushed the competition and Pittsburgh remained a Super Bowl contender, but they have lost four in a row and the outlook is bleak.

It’s time to turn to Justin Fields. It may not be the obvious solution, and it may not be the move that changes the Steelers’ postseason outcome. But the magic of Russ is gone and isn’t coming back. The Steelers can either recognize this and make the necessary decision, or they can bury their heads in the sand while Russ leads them to their fifth straight loss and another first-round playoff exit.

Be sure to bookmark Steelers On SI for all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!