On Wednesday, Josh Rowntree reported on recent comments made by Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Kenny Pickett via 93.7 The Fan. At his press conference this week, Pickett talked about the Steelers' 10-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett throws a pass vs Las Vegas Raiders / Photo Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Pickett said that he felt the final winning drive of the game was both a high note and something he hopes is a bit of a breakthrough moment for these last few games of the season.
Steelers Kenny Pickett Playing Like A QB1 Since The Bye
The entire Steelers team has been a bit of a rollercoaster this season and while that was true of Pickett early on, he has steadily been improving, particularly since the bye week. It is no secret that the offense has struggled to put points on the board, in fact, their most senior wide receiver, Diontae Johnson, still has yet to score a touchdown.
On top of that, there have been players complaining about their lack of targets, most notably Johnson but also fellow receiver George Pickens.
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 13: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on from the sidelines during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on August 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
All that aside, the team was able to come through with Pickett driving them down the field to find the red zone late in the fourth quarter. That touchdown, along with a key interception by Cam Sutton, produced the points needed to seal the victory for the Steelers.
During his press conference this week, Head Coach Mike Tomlin called the pass from Pickett to Pickens a bit of a “grow up moment” for the two rookies as well as the young offense. For his part, Pickett is trying not to let it go to his head.
“It’s a step in the right direction, but I'm not going to overdo it,” Pickett said Wednesday. “We did what we were supposed to do, we got there, we won the game in that situation. It’s a huge positive for us, but now we have to obviously turn the page and get ready for this week.”
While things may have looked bleak from a fan perspective, the Steelers are currently ranked 17th in the red zone scoring at 53.3 percent effectiveness. However, now the Steelers are in the improbable position to still potentially see post-season action. The Steelers have a two percent chance of making the playoffs. Sure it isn’t much, but it is more than most fans hoped for a few weeks ago. Two things are for sure, they have to win out and they need a lot of help.
Pickett recognizes that he can only control what he can control and their chance at the playoffs starts in part with him helping them win the last two games against the Ravens in Baltimore and the Browns in Pittsburgh. The offense cannot afford to stall out in the third quarter again. They have already lost to the Ravens once 16-14 in a game that did not feel nearly that close.
Steelers' Kenny Pickett (#8) gets hit by the Baltimore Ravens' Roquan Smith (#18) in Pittsburgh, PA. | Photo Credit: Fred Vuich/Associated Press
“I think just consistency and finishing drives is going to be the focus,” Pickett said. “We’ve got to finish in the red zone and be better there. So, like we've been preaching pretty much this back half of the season, that's the main emphasis that we’ve got to continue to try and become a lot better at.”
“You’ve got to continue to be balanced and do some different things,” Pickett added. “So that’s one thing that we're going to continue to work on.”
Pickett is certainly showing not only improvement but mature decision-making. The more different defensive looks he sees, the more he studies and internalizes the information to use later. The future looks bright for Pickett, the question is will it be enough to save the season?
What do you think the Steelers' chance of making the postseason is? How do you feel about Pickett’s improvements? Comment below.
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