Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields stats: Comparing Steelers’ QBs amid starter controversy

The 10-7 Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to keep their season alive and put an end to their four-game losing streak this weekend. Standing in their way: the 12-5 Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs. 

Pittsburgh, which is currently riding a four-game losing streak, will look to win its first playoff game since Jan. 2017. To do so, the Steelers will have to beat a Baltimore team that beat them handily in Week 16. 

The Steelers will once again start Russell Wilson, who has been Pittsburgh’s QB since mid-October. For the first six games of the season, Justin Fields was under center, leading the Steelers to a 4-2 record. Wilson was slated to start for the Steelers in Week 1, but a calf injury gave Fields the job instead. 

With Wilson struggling and the Steelers limping into the postseason, the largely dormant QB controversy is being revived, with some believing that the more mobile Fields would give Pittsburgh a better chance to win. 

Let’s take a look at both quarterbacks’ statistics, how the offense did when both were starting, and whether head coach Mike Tomlin might make a change against the Ravens.

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Russell Wilson’s 2024-25 statistics 

Justin Fields’ 2024-25 statistics 

Steelers offense with Russell Wilson vs. Justin Fields

Currently, the Steelers are averaging 22.4 points per game, good for 16th in the league. Let’s take a look at how the offense did overall with both Fields and Wilson under center:

As you can see, Wilson has the upper hand in key categories like points per game, total yards, and passing yards. It’s obviously a smaller sample size, but the Steelers weren’t running the ball as effectively with Fields under center — surprising, given his own rushing ability — despite winning at a slightly higher clip.

During Pittsburgh’s current four-game losing streak, Wilson’s stats don’t show a significant regression overall, but there are some key areas that stand out. Since Week 15, Wilson has thrown two interceptions and lost three fumbles. 

He’s also been sacked 14 times. In his seven previous starts, Pittsburgh had given up just 19 sacks. His passer ratings have dipped under 100 in his past four games, and the Steelers have averaged just 14.3 points per contest during the losing streak, as well.  

Fields finished his first six games with just one interception, but he did have six fumbles. He was sacked 16 times over six games, too, continuing a concerning pattern that started when he was with the Bears.

Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has gone 0-4 in his past four playoff appearances. The Steelers have never fired a head coach, but a bad loss to Baltimore to end the season on a five-game losing streak may prompt Pittsburgh to make a rare coaching change.

After Pittsburgh’s Week 18 loss to Cincinnati, Tomlin was asked whether he’s considering using Fields more against the Ravens. 

“I’m certainly open to utilizing Justin,” Tomlin told reporters earlier this week. “He has an awesome skill set. We’ve done some of that in the past. We’ve done less of it in recent weeks. He experienced an injury a couple of weeks back that slowed some of that. But certainly in an effort to win this game. I am open to any combination or combinations of the division of labor in an effort to do so, and so I’m certainly open to that as we develop plans this week.”

Whether that translates to the field this week remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Pittsburgh has to do something to wake up its offense. Fields can provide a spark on certain plays, but the numbers suggest Wilson is still the better option overall. 

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Steelers QB depth chart

Aside from Wilson and Fields, Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback is Kyle Allen, who has appeared in just 17 games over seven seasons. He’s spent time with the Panthers, Commanders, Texas, and Bills.