The Pittsburgh Steelers long-awaited rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett's starting debut is right around the corner. The Steelers go into New York to take on the Buffalo Bills at 1pm as two-touchdown underdogs for the first time since the post 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Pickett knows the spread and he doesn't care. To him, it's Pittsburgh vs. the world at this point.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) during a game at Acrisure Stadium against the New York Jets on Oct. 2, 2022 in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
“It’s the attitude in which you go about it," Pickett stated. "You guys, everyone else, thinks we are underdogs, but we don’t, so we’re going to go in with some confidence. We know how great we can be when we’re detailed.”“That’s something we need to take care of during the week or we won’t have a shot. It’s the details, it’s the little things. Guys running at the right depth, I gotta be on time and keep a great ball,” Pickett stated matter-of-factly.
What's not being taken into context is what is actually being asked to provoke Pickett's "underdog" response. A reporter asked:
"Kenny, you guys are walking into this as historic underdogs..."
And then proceeds to ask how this compares to Pickett's first college start in which the University of Pittsburgh were massive underdogs against the University of Miami, which initiated the above response.
Steelers starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) prepares to take a snap at Acrisure Stadium in his first regular season action against the New York Jets. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
However, the rookie QB doesn't lack confidence in himself or the guys he's lining up with, despite the unimpressive 1-3 start to the 2022 season. From a veteran Super Bowl Champion outside linebacker to the rookie and new starting Steelers' QB, Bills' OLB Von Miller is telling Pickett to slow down on all of the underdog, "Steelers vs. the world" talk.
"Who thinks you're an underdog, bud?" Miller stated on Reddit, via Brian Batko and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Like, geez, Kenny. Stop it, Kenny! Don't try to get crazy on us, man. Just come in and play the game.""Why's he looking at the spread? Nobody looks at the spread of the game. Like, nobody's looking at none of that. We're just getting ready to play the Steelers. Don't try to get fake mad. Don't try to get crazy on us. Nobody thinks you're underdogs, Kenny. Don't do it."
Maybe, Miller is worried this mindset that Pickett is depicting will add an edge to the Steelers' locker room before the black and gold take on the Bills on Sunday afternoon.
Kenny Pickett (8) attempting a pass against the New York Jets on Oct. 2, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
After a slow 1-3 start to the season, Pickett is looking to turn the Steelers season around starting on Sunday. He's trying to be the best leader he can be, while being whatever type of leader the Steelers are needing in the moment! If he feels he needs to shoulder that load and put that target on his back as he seemingly has with Miller, then, so be it!
“Doing my job at a high level and playing with energy. At the same time, I don’t like to get too high or too low. I know I showed some emotion out there on Sunday. I felt like we needed it, so it was really read the room, read the situation and fit the kind of leadership style that needs to be fit.”
What are yinz thoughts on Von Miller's comments about Pickett's underdog comments? Sound off in the comment section below, or on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram!
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