PITTSBURGH – Russell Wilson grinned as he sat at the podium after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-18 win over the New York Giants and pondered how to describe the difference between his first and second appearances as a Steeler.

“I felt more fluid,” the quarterback said, settling on a descriptor. “I haven’t really missed a game in my life, and when you miss five, six games, you just think, ‘Okay, okay, you gotta find your rhythm.’ … Sometimes it’s not easy to have possession, especially when you’re playing against good teams, so you just react. I think the most important thing is you just react.”

With 278 yards and a touchdown when he completed 20 of 28 attempts Monday night, Wilson set a franchise record for most passing yards by a Steeler in his first two games with the organization (542), surpassing Earl Morrall’s 504 yards in 1957, according to ESPN. Research.

“I just thought he didn’t need to warm up for it,” coach Mike Tomlin said of Wilson’s second appearance. “A little less rust than the week before, but I’m not surprised by his capabilities.”

Wilson and the offense moved the ball almost seamlessly in their first three possessions, but each time the drive ended in a field goal. Two potential touchdown throws to George Pickens were called back and another drive stalled after back-to-back gains of more than twenty yards. Wilson complained about the two recalled Pickens touchdowns, including the second where the receiver put his right foot down twice, but because his left foot did not touch after the catch, it was ruled incomplete.

“It’s an interesting rule,” Wilson said. “It’s like we obviously thought maybe he dragged his toe, maybe he got it down. We put the same foot down twice, and it’s obviously one and then another, No. 2, it’s almost like you get a knee, and it counts as a touchdown. And maybe getting two rights (feet) should count. But I don’t know.

“…George had a great game. Obviously I know he wants those two touchdowns. We all want them – it would have really opened up the game for us early.”

Although his first two TD throws were called back, Wilson ultimately found wide receiver Calvin Austin III for a 29-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, marking Austin’s second score of the day on a third-quarter punt return to the house. Wilson’s touchdown against Austin had just a 28.2% completion probability, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, giving the quarterback a league-high 12 total touchdowns with a completion probability of less than 30% since the start of last season.

“He’s always talking to us, always looking for that big play, that check, that signal, that route, that look or whatever,” Austin said. “He’s always on the hunt for that big piece.”

Thanks in large part to Wilson and a ruthless run game anchored by Najee Harris and his three consecutive 100-yard performances, the Steelers managed to add at least 400 yards for the first time since the 2018 season record a violation. .

But Wilson warned the Steelers can’t get complacent as they enter their Week 9 bye atop the AFC North with a 6-2 record, the team’s best start since going 8-0 in 2020.

“We have a lot of confidence,” Wilson said. “We haven’t done anything yet. Obviously we’re at 6-2 here, which is great, but it doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean anything. When we look back on it, we’ve got to make sure we stay focused on the next task, and which is to really take care of our bodies, take care of our minds, enjoy this with your family and all those kinds of things this bye week.

“Because we have a wave ahead of us that we have to catch, and there are a lot of great games ahead of us and we are not going to shy away from them.”