PITTSBURGH — Admittedly, I am living in my fears when I say Justin Fields should start Sunday. It's all based on his running ability.

I'd go with the quarterback who possibly has less of a chance of getting maimed and more of a chance of making plays with his feet behind a perforated offensive line.

I know that's not a great case, especially long-term, as Mike Tomlin apparently readies himself to start Russell Wilson against the New York Jets, who are tied for third in the NFL in sacks.

We all know — or at least we should — that Fields did not capitalize on his big opportunity two weeks ago against the Dallas Cowboys. Coming off a good game against the Chargers and a spectacular second half against the Colts, Fields had the national stage and a chance to leave no doubt that he was the guy moving forward.

He left doubt. And he followed it up with an uneven performance against the bumbling Las Vegas Raiders.

The case against Fields isn't complicated: He's not a consistent passer. He wasn't in Chicago. He hasn't been here. Do I need to tell you that's a problematic issue for a quarterback? It's like a mechanic who has a bit of trouble with cars. Fields has completed just 29-of-54 attempts (53.7%) for 276 yards over the past two games. He's lucky his stat line wasn't littered with turnovers, too.

Fields got away with a terrible early throw against Dallas (defender dropped it), a wayward lateral that fortunately was recovered by teammate Jaylen Warren in Vegas (easily could have been a defensive touchdown), and an interception just before halftime that might have gotten him pulled from the Raiders game (overturned on a roughing the passer call that had zero impact on what was probably Fields' worst pass of the season). He's also on pace for 17 fumbles.

One might ask, "How can you replace a guy who just led the offense to 32 points and a lopsided win?"

One might answer: "That's an awfully simplistic reading of a game in which the Steelers offense really wasn't that impressive. You don't need an analytics deep dive to prove that the outcome was deceiving. And did you know they were playing the Raiders?"

Two touchdown drives stayed alive, after all, because of questionable roughing the passer calls. Both drives were dead. One ended with a Fields pick, the other on a give-up, third-and-long dump off. Imagine what the Steelers' pedestrian total of 293 total yards might have been if not for those calls.

When gifted with a blocked punt at the Raiders 9, the Steelers went backward 10 yards and settled for a field goal. Also, the Raiders had a touchdown called back on a mistaken ineligible man downfield call.

A sober analysis of that game tells you Fields made winning plays with his legs but hardly elevated himself to unquestioned QB1.

As to the "yes, but they're winning" argument, the Steelers were 6-4 when they fired their offensive coordinator last season. Just winning a few more than you lose isn't enough anymore. It wasn't last year. It's not this year.

When the Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada last year, Tomlin said, "I want to engineer victory more fluidly, and points do that." As he readies himself to perhaps make a quarterback change this year, he said, "Justin has been really good — we've been really good at times — but not to be confused as great."

"Really good at times" doesn't cut it. The Steelers rank 20th in scoring and 19th in red-zone efficiency. That's not exactly '07 Patriots stuff, and it hardly speaks to Fields having an air-tight case to remain the starter. His case is based on his elite running ability and the fact that some of his best plays have been turning sure sacks into something other than that. And it's not a bad case, especially with the Jets next.

We'll see if Wilson can improve those numbers. We'll see if Fields was covering up the offense's deficiencies or contributing to them. If Wilson is worse, you go back to Fields. That's not overly complicated, either, and if Fields' confidence takes a shot — as Ben Roethlisberger has suggested it might — he'll need to get over it fast if he wants a future here.

Tomlin might have been married to the idea that Wilson was going to be his guy sooner or later. Fields had a chance to force a divorce when Dallas came to town. The Cowboys defense had given up a combined 72 points to the Ravens and Saints and were without superstar linebacker Micah Parsons and others.

You might have noticed that the Cowboys have since surrendered 47 points to the Lions. But they pretty much stifled the Steelers that night (226 yards, 3 for 12 on third down, etc.). Instead of showing the world that he was a new man, no longer constrained by Chicago Bears dysfunction, Fields faltered.

The Steelers even opened up in the first half, allowing Fields to take several shots downfield. Connor Heyward didn't help, dropping a perfect pass down the left sideline. But otherwise, Fields failed to capitalize. He was mediocre much of the night, good at times. Not great. And he followed it up with a similar performance.

I'd start him, yes, but not with much confidence. Don't pretend Fields made the most of his big opportunity. He had a chance to leave no doubt.

He left doubt.

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