The Steelers still have a chance to make the playoffs as we enter Week 18 of the NFL season. That in itself is an accomplishment after Pittsburgh started 1-4 and 2-6 this season before the bye.
A lot of the Steelers’ success has to do with the defense, but you can’t overlook what Kenny Pickett has done under center. The rookie quarterback has the Steelers in the hunt, and although they don’t control their own destiny, there are still playoff hopes in Pittsburgh in the new year.
Adam Crowley and Greg Finley of the Audacy Original Podcast “Fourth Down in the Steel City” talked about Pickett’s play and if the Steelers have found themselves a franchise quarterback.
“I think they do,” Finley said (1:50 in player above). “He didn’t have the best numbers again but when it comes to you need the guy to make plays down the stretch, he does that. The throw to Steven Sims was incredible. That was an absolute dart in a small window and then the throw to Najee, he put it only where Najee could get it. The linebacker played it pretty well but Najee blew past him and he had to put the ball right where he put it. That was beautiful. And you see his left hand, he gives Najee a little like ‘take off’ cause Najee was just hanging out for a check-down and Kenny on the run improvised and made that play happen. That was fantastic.”
Pickett’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Najee Harris put the Steelers ahead for good in the final minute of Sunday night’s showdown.
It was an impressive play by the quarterback.
“(Sunday) night, emotionally, I tweeted out that the Steelers have their franchise quarterback,” Crowley said. “I doubled down on that (on Monday), and all I’m getting is ‘His numbers are bad. You’re a homer. He’s not that good. Don’t you dare compare him to Ben Roethlisberger in any way, shape, or form.’ And you know what? F all those people. It’s supposed to be fun.”
In fairness, Pickett’s numbers haven’t been great. He went 15 of 27 for 168 yards and a touchdown in the win against the Ravens, but he came through when it mattered most.
Pickett has also improved as the season’s moved along. The Steelers went 2-4 in his first six starts and are 4-1 in his last five. That’s a positive sign for a rookie quarterback.
“If I want to be jacked up because Kenny Pickett beat the team that I hate most in the world in football … why can’t I be jacked up?” Crowley continued. “Why do I have to not allow my emotions to take over? What, ‘cause I do radio stuff? I will always be objective. That is my goal. But at the same time, I’m not going to pretend like (Sunday) night didn’t mean something.”
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