Mark Madden: Playing Russell Wilson offers better solution to Steelers' big-picture needs

The presumed quarterback switch from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson shouldn’t be judged by whether the Pittsburgh Steelers win Sunday night’s home game vs. the New York Jets.

But it will be.

Certainly, the Steelers need to win by way of avoiding descent into the NFL’s mushy middle.

But there are big-picture needs, too.

The offense needs to be more adventurous. Use more of the field. Take shots deep and in the end zone. Properly involve George Pickens’ ample talents before he implodes. Get more passing yards. The NFL is a passing league.

This switch is about defeating the better foes that crop up in the second half of the schedule. Beating Baltimore and winning the AFC North. Winning a playoff game.

Coach Mike Tomlin looked at all those needs and concluded that Wilson provides a better chance of fulfilling them than Fields. I agree.

Tomlin handled this situation perfectly.

Many of the citizens and media wanted Tomlin to proclaim Fields the starter.

Tomlin didn’t. There was no benefit to that. He left Wilson at QB1 on the depth chart while Wilson was hurt and let things play out. Tomlin never overplayed his hand.

Wilson is a legit NFL quarterback. Fields is a chicken with his head cut off.

With Wilson, the offense will develop rhythm and nuance.

With Fields, the offense was just trying to squeak by.

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Fields was never the starter. He was always a placeholder.

Fields had two good games. He lost one of those. His record is 4-2, but he could only really sign his name to the Week 3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He only cracked 200 yards passing twice.

Fields is Kenny Pickett with more mobility.

Had Fields beat Indianapolis or Dallas and the Steelers were 5-1, this is a tougher decision. But he didn’t, they aren’t and this wasn’t. Fields was rotten in the loss to Dallas: 4.9 yards per passing attempt.

The Steelers should have a package of plays for Fields. He’s earned that. Short yardage. Near the goal line. Use those legs and instincts.

Then again, Fields took first-and-goal at Las Vegas’ 9 and turned it into fourth-and goal from Vegas’ 19.

Too many people are overreacting to the Steelers’ QB switcheroo. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky acts like Tom Brady got benched.

Fields’ NFL record is 14-30. He fumbles constantly.

Wilson is a Super Bowl champion and likely Pro Football Hall of Famer.

The Fields/Wilson debate is akin to Trump/Harris.

The citizens choose a side and won’t budge. Won’t acknowledge anything bad about their pick or anything good about the alternative. It’s toxic.

Be smarter than that.

Fields can run the ball. If he’d been averaging 15 carries per game, this is a more difficult call.

Wilson isn’t as mobile as Fields and could have problems behind the Steelers’ beat-up offensive line. But it won’t be as grievous as the Fields groupies think.

Tomlin can always put Fields back in. It’s a liquid situation. The electoral college isn’t involved.

I’m not anti-Tomlin right now. He navigated all this smoothly.

He also called a Jets defender a “climate control guy.” I have no idea what that means, but it rolls off the tongue. If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance …