The Pittsburgh Steelers trailed in all but :46 seconds in their Christmas Eve showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders. In a game that commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception and the life of Hall of Fame running back, Franco Harris, it was a near identical finish of the game half a century ago. With the wind chill causing the temperature to drop below 0 degrees, it was all but fitting to have this game in late December become an instant classic.
Steelers rookie wide receiver, George Pickens hauls in what would be the game-winning touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve. | AP Photo / Matt Durisko
Although it was not the prettiest stat line of the season, the Steelers young offense took significant strides in crucial moments of the game to finish off the well deserved victory. No one deserves more credit for his late game heroics than rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett. Pickett has had an up and down first season in the NFL, but proved why he was well deserving of the first round selection by the Steelers in last year's draft. He finished the night with 244 yards passing, with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, but nothing was more impressive than the way he led the entire offense on the final game-winning drive.
Steelers' Kenny Pickett (#8) rolls out of the pocket against the Las Vegas Raiders in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: Jared Wickerham/Pittsburgh Steelers
Pickett is also starting to develop a noticeable connection with second-year tight end, Pat Freiermuth. Freiermuth tied his season high in receptions with 7, to go along with 66 receiving yards against the Raiders. After the Steelers' Week 15 game against the Carolina Panthers where Freiermuth didn't receive a target all game and ended up nursing a foot injury during the following week, it was extremely impressive to see him have a solid game and haul in multiple receptions on the game-winning drive, including a tremendous catch along the sideline.
Steelers running back, Najee Harris has also seen a tremendous improvement over the last handful of weeks. Since the bye week, Harris has seen his yards per carry increase to 3.95. Harris was struggling to get anything going in the right direction in the beginning stages of the season, but since the Steelers got back to their traditional 'ground-and-pound' offense, the trajectory of his season has changed dramatically. Harris now only sits 157 yards away from his second 1,000-yard season in his first two years in the NFL.
The Steelers' Week 17 Matchup In Baltimore Will Be Their Biggest Test Yet
The Steelers finish up the regular season with two divisional games against the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. First comes first in Baltimore, where the Ravens find themselves only one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals in the race for the AFC North title. It is safe to say that this week's game for the Steelers will be as close to a playoff atmosphere as you can get in the regular season.
For players like Harris, Freiermuth, and Diontae Johnson, they got the chance to get playoff experience last season in the Wild Card round against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although that experience may help them this weekend, it will be a completely different scenario due to them now working with their future franchise quarterback in Pickett, rather than former quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. The importance of this young offense finding their stride in a playoff-type atmosphere could pay tremendous dividends in the future when the time comes and they find themselves playing in the postseason.
There are defining moments in every young NFL players' career early on, and the game this Sunday night will be a prime opportunity for the Steelers' young play-makers to go into enemy territory and set the record straight after their first matchup with the Ravens earlier in December. The Steelers need help elsewhere around the league if they want to end up playing this postseason, but these next two games can send this team into the off-season with some much needed momentum.
Unlike in Week 16, the weather will not be a factor for either team. The Steelers run defense has taken tremendous steps in the right direction since they last saw the Ravens. With Lamar Jackson likely out yet again, the defense can focus their eyes on running back, J.K. Dobbins, who rushed for 120 yards in the first matchup.
It will be interesting to see how the Steelers show up in a game that has a win or go home type feel to it. Regardless of the outcome, the experience for these young stars will be vital to the rest of their careers in Pittsburgh.
What do you think? Do you think the Steelers have a chance to pull off their biggest upset of the season in Baltimore this Sunday? If they do, will this be a crucial moment in the development of Kenny Pickett? Tell us what you think in the comment section below or on my Twitter @collinlschmitt.
#SteelerNation
