Whether we believe it or not, Sunday afternoon was full of the kind of NFL drama that makes the sport irresistible — even before the best team took the field. This was especially the case for Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
As Mike Tomlin and the Steelers prepared for their highly anticipated Sunday night showdown against the Green Bay Packers, their former quarterback, Justin Fields, was quietly doing his old team a favor several hundred miles away.
The Pittsburgh Steelers entered Week 8 still recovering from an embarrassing Week 7 loss to their AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals — a game they let slip through their fingers. The defeat helped Cincinnati make up valuable ground in the division standings. It was a tough pill to swallow for Pittsburgh.
But then came a little help from an unexpected source.
Former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, now the questioned starter for the New York Jets, decided it was time to rewrite his own narrative — and in the process, gift his old team a much-needed assist.
Fields has faced a storm of criticism since landing in New York. The Jets’ winless start under rookie head coach Aaron Glenn had drawn heavy fire from fans and analysts alike. Fields was called inconsistent, hesitant, and even “past the point of saving” by some of the loudest voices in New York sports media. But on Sunday, he reminded everyone why he was once a first-round pick — and why writing him off too early is always a mistake.
The Pittsburgh Steelers owe Justin Fields after an impressive Week 7 performance
The Jets’ 39–38 comeback win over the Bengals wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement.
Fields threw for 244 yards, rushed for another 31, and tossed a perfectly timed touchdown pass in the second quarter. His resilience under pressure helped New York secure their first win of the season, and in doing so, he handed Pittsburgh a parting gift that couldn’t have come at a better time.
With the Bengals and Browns both losing on Sunday, the Steelers suddenly found themselves in a position to widen their lead in the AFC North. A win later that night could push them to 5–2, providing some valuable breathing room in one of football’s most competitive divisions.
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Fields’ performance may not have been designed with Pittsburgh in mind, but football has a funny way of connecting past and present. His determination to rise above adversity, to prove his worth, indirectly lifted his former teammates — the same ones who once shared a locker room with him in Pittsburgh.
In many ways, that’s the beauty of the NFL. Storylines overlap. Rivalries blur. Players move on, but their impact lingers. Fields might wear a different shade of green now, but on Sunday, he did something that earned him a quiet cheer from fans in black and gold.
Justin Fields may no longer be a Steeler, but his resolve, growth, and ability to deliver when it mattered most reminded Pittsburgh of what perseverance looks like. Whether intentional or not, his comeback performance against Cincinnati was a reminder that football is about more than who you play for — it’s about the moments that shape who you become. And for Pittsburgh, his win felt like a small victory of their own.