The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Cleveland Browns 13-10 in Week 11. The passing offense was atrocious, and Kenny Pickett had his worst game as a professional. Pickett only threw for 106 yards on 28 attempts. He missed several key reads in the middle of the field, including what could have been the game-winning touchdown to a wide-open Diontae Johnson in the red zone during the fourth quarter.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett had arguably his worst game as a professional in a Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The weight of first round quarterback expectations is weighing heavily on the second-year quarterback. He is only the fourth quarterback taken in the first round by the Steelers in the Super Bowl era. Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger were Hall of Fame level quarterbacks who won Super Bowls. Pickett is not in their class, which would be okay if he played the position competently, but in 2023, he is not.
After 22 starts. I'm out on Kenny Pickett. He's not the answer. Yes, I know. I look like the world's biggest idiot. Time to go back to the drawing board for 2024. All options are on the table.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) November 20, 2023
The biggest Pickett fan on Earth was Andrew Fillipponi of The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller. The key word is was because Pickett has played so poorly, he has finally alienated one of his biggest supporters. He didn’t take pleasure in it on Monday, but the bombastic host explained his decision to reverse his course on the former Pitt Panthers quarterback.
“I think we are going to look back on this game and say it was the beginning of the end for Kenny Pickett as Steelers starting quarterback,” Fillipponi announced. “I can’t believe I’m sitting here 22 starts into his career saying this after all the hoopla, hype, and hysteria that I got sucked into during the preseason, but I’m out. I’ve given up, I’m tapping out here. Throw in the towel, my manager, and ring the bell.”
The game's final play greatly aided Pickett’s passing yardage on Sunday. A hook and ladder pass to George Pickens, who lateralled to Johnson, picked up 13 yards to reach the 106-yard total. Pickett protected the ball and did not throw an interception on Sunday, but that should not be confused with sound decision-making.
“I don’t know if you remember this, Chris [Mueller], I made a promise to you. It might have been after the first Cleveland game,” Fillipponi continued. “What would it take for you to move off of Kenny? And I said when we get to a point where I think you can fashion a reasonable argument that he is the worst quarterback in the league, and the numbers back that up. At that point, I will say we are only in year 2, but I don’t see any reason for hope. I don’t see anything that he is going to overcome this or be better than this.”
The New York Jets decided to pull Zach Wilson during their loss to the Buffalo Bills, which officially put Pickett at the bottom of the totem pole of NFL starting quarterbacks. It is hard to say at this point what went wrong. Many fans point to the offensive scheme, but it does not explain Pickett’s refusal to throw the ball in the middle of the field.
The Pat McAfee Show
Steelers' Kenny Pickett's pass attempt chart shows alarming pattern.
Steelers' Kenny Pickett Draws Comparisons To Ben Roethlisberger In Final Season
Fans have pointed to Roethlisberger’s final seasons of short, quick throws to the sideline to justify Pickett’s play, but even the staunchest supporter knows it is disingenuous. Roethlisberger did not avoid the middle of the field. He was an old quarterback who didn’t want to get physically punished behind a bad offensive line. It does not give Pickett a hall pass behind an improved unit.
Steeler Nation is staring down the barrel of a miss on a first-round quarterback. The other quarterback the Steelers selected in the first round was Mark Malone, who enjoyed a rocky tenure with the Steelers under Chuck Noll. Malone only posted one winning season as a starting quarterback, but it was a doozy. It ended in the highest-scoring AFC Championship game of all-time. The Steelers lost to the Miami Dolphins 45-28.
Associated Press
Steelers' Kenny Pickett and the offense struggled against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11.
Fans old enough to remember the Malone years would settle for that level of play from Pickett for the remainder of 2023. It is hard to envision the embattled second-year starter as the long-term answer in Pittsburgh, but stranger things have happened in the NFL. Pickett is easy to root for, and there is still an undercurrent of support he could tap into with one good game.
The Steelers desperately need him to succeed, but the doomsday clock on his career is dangerously close to tolling the end of his tenure as a starting quarterback. It is not too late, but after losing his biggest supporter and possibly his wide receiving corps, there isn't a moment to spare. The Steelers, at 6-4, still can make the playoffs. The question is if Pickett will be under center if they do.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Did you ever think that Fillipponi would bail on Pickett? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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