If anyone had asked me a month ago how I thought the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers season would be ending, I wouldn't have been able to confidently tell you that they would be in the spot that they are in now. Before their bye week, this same Steelers team sat with a record of 2-6 and was in last place in the tough AFC North. There were even rumblings about the Steelers potentially being in line for a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, our season was essentially done at that time.
Fast forward just two months, and this Steelers team has a legitimate shot to secure the final seventh seed in the AFC playoff race.
Photo Credit: Steelers.com
In order to do so, they will need a few things to go in their favor. Not only would the Steelers have to secure a Week 17 win versus the Cleveland Browns, but they will also need help from other AFC foes in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both the New York Jets and New England Patriots would also have to lose in order for the black and gold to get in.
Since both of those teams beat us in the first half of the season, we would need a better overall record than either AFC team in order to clinch that last seventh playoff spot, but after this past week's win versus the Baltimore Ravens, confidence is at an all-time high.
A good reason for the confidence booster should be due to the recent quarterback play of rookie sensation Kenny Pickett, who seems to have won all of Steeler Nation over in just these past two weeks. In back-to-back weeks, Pickett has led this Steelers offense down the field on what was their final drive, both resulting in touchdowns to secure a victory. Pickett seems to have really turned the corner after the Steelers' bye week, and his play has been a good reason why this team has gone 6-2 since then.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (8) during a regular season game vs The Baltimore Ravens Sunday, January 1st, 2023. / Photo Credit: Jared Wickerman. Steelers.com
Before the bye week, Pickett has been responsible for eight interceptions in five total games. There were questions regarding his decision-making and even some around the league who thought he might not be as ready as many thought. Since then, Pickett has only thrown one interception and led back-to-back game-winning drives. He did that all while posting a QBR of over 80 percent in each of the last five contests. Although the rookie quarterback’s success may have taken longer than some expected, players like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and even Head Coach Mike Tomlin don’t seem surprised one bit.
“I can’t say enough about our young QB,” Coach Tomlin said. “He smiled in the face of it. He’s always ready to be that guy in the moments that we need him. And it’s just good to see the young guy.”
“We do so many two-minute drives in practice, and you see the moxie in our quarterback," T.J. Watt said. “We’ve seen our guys go out and ball out in practice all season long. We weren’t surprised.”
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (8) evades Baltimore Ravens Justin Houston (50) in a regular season game in Baltimore. January 1st, 2023 / Photo Credit: Karl Roser. Steelers.com /
You won’t find many young guys getting that type of praise, especially from players and coaches of that caliber, so when you hear it come out of their mouths, you know they actually mean it. Pickett has not only won over the fan base but what he has done on the field also seems to have won over his teammates as well, a good recipe for success heading into what could potentially be a playoff hunt.
“The kid’s growing before our eyes,” Defensive Lineman Cam Heyward said. “He’s making quality throws, leading us downfield. It’s really awesome to be 24 years old and a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. You got to love the way he’s leading that offense. And he keeps growing week in and week out.”
How confident are you in the future of this team with Kenny Pickett under center? Let u know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
