PITTSBURGH (AP) — At first glance, the decision was risky, but only for those who haven’t been paying attention to how Pittsburgh Steelers mind your business these days.

Backed up in the first quarter against Washington on Sunday and preparing to punt, All-Pro Miles Killebrew, acting as a back, saw one of the Commanders’ gunners slide down the line of scrimmage to assist on a potential block, leaving his teammate James Pierre alone on the outside.

So Killebrew, the captain of perhaps the best special teams unit in the NFL, did what veteran coordinator Danny Smith has authorized him to do: He took a gamble, took the snap and threw a pass to an open Pierre on the left sideline. Pierre, perhaps showing why he is a cornerback and not a wide receiver by trade, he dropped itgiving the Commanders impeccable field position that they quickly converted into a touchdown.

In the end it didn’t matter. Not after the Steelers erased a 10-point second-half deficit to beats Washington 28-27 and improve to 7-2 after a game that in many ways symbolized the shift in the tectonic plates that have long governed arguably the NFL’s most stable franchise.

Stepping back, Killebrew’s decision simply aligns with the accelerating sense of urgency that has permeated all levels of the organization over the past 10 months.

Consider this: The winning touchdown was thrown by a quarterback ( Russell Wilson ) that was not on the list in February and not in the lineup until October. He was caught by a wide receiver (Mike Williams) who started last week as a member of the New York Jets.

Pittsburgh spent the first two seasons of the post-Ben Roethlisberger era trying to do things the way they’ve always done them: methodically and pragmatically. Only Kenny Pickett was unsuccessful. The offense continued to falter under Matt Canada and the NFL’s most expensive defense made enough plays to keep the Steelers competitive, but not enough to close the gap between Pittsburgh and the powers that be in the AFC.

Suddenly, that abyss seems much more navigable than it did a month ago, when mike tomlin grateful Justin Fields for his solid, if not always spectacular, play during a 4-2 start and turned the offense over to Wilson. Fields had done everything Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith asked of him. He took care of the ball. He used his legs to make plays. He did everything he could to not lose games.

The decision to turn to Wilson, however, came with the message that not losing is no longer enough. Games with Fields behind center seemed like a lot of them over the last half-decade or so: The defense kept things tight and one or two plays by the offense created a narrow path to victory.

But the NFL’s longest-serving coach knew he hadn’t seen enough. If Pittsburgh wants to end a playoff winning drought that dates back to the 2016 AFC championship (the longest gap between postseason victories since the Immaculate Reception 52 years ago), Tomlin knew its offense would have to be more How useful for the Steelers to catch the win. Kansas Cities and buffaloes of the world.

So he turned to Wilson, who has silenced his skeptics one moonball at a time. The ultimate test came on that lob to the end zone in the final minutes for Williams, something Tomlin had seen on highlight shows but developed a greater appreciation for as he watched it unfold in real time right in front of him.

Without a doubt, there is a long way to go. The last two months include six AFC North games, a trip to Philadelphia and a Christmas Day showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

If there’s one thing to take away from Pittsburgh’s promising first half of the season, it’s that they’re no longer comfortable with the status quo. And Tomlin may have realized that when talking about a fourth-and-1 call in the final minute that led Washington to jump offside, allowing the Steelers to seal the game.

When asked if Wilson was really going to break the ball if the Commanders didn’t jump, Tomlin smiled.

“We’ll never know, right?” Tomlin said. “You all know I’m a degenerate.”

And he is no longer satisfied with trusting the process. Pittsburgh ruined the way it normally does things during the offseason. Nine games later, the Steelers are reaping the benefits of a year in which the ceiling seems to rise with each passing week.

What is working?

Distributing the ball. Wilson targeted nine different players (even third-string tight end MyCole Pruitt took a look) and it’s telling of Wilson’s “throw to anyone, whenever” approach that his bomb to Williams marked the first time he looked in Williams’ direction. throughout the day.

What needs help?

Not much for a team that is a handful of plays away from going 9-0. If Williams’ arrival can create more opportunities for George Pickens, the Steelers could have one of the most potent offenses in the league, something they haven’t had since the height of the “Killer B” era in the late 1990s. 2010.

Supply

Nine months after the Denver Broncos paid nearly $40 million to let Wilson go, the nine-time Pro Bowler looks rejuvenated in Pittsburgh.

Stock down

The defense is elite, but sometimes that aggressiveness can be a double-edged sword. Pittsburgh needs to avoid the type of penalties (masks and pass interference, etc.) that piled up against Washington, allowing the Commanders to extend their campaigns.

Injuries

Pittsburgh will enter the stretch relatively healthy, although depth at outside linebacker could be a concern after Alex Highsmith sprained his left ankle chasing Jayden Daniels in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

Key number

92.3 – The percentage of teams since 1990 that started the season 7-2 and made the playoffs.

Next steps

See if they can still be Lamar Jackson’s Kryptonite when the Baltimore Ravens Visit Pittsburgh on Sunday. Jackson is just 2-4 against the Steelers in his career.

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