4th Quarter Kenny
Through Kenny Pickett’s first 17 games as the Steelers’ QB1, he had managed to author four come-from-behind, 4th quarter comebacks.
In primetime. On Christmas Eve. Twice against an archrival.
None of them were quite like yesterday’s, which saw a pair of unanswered touchdowns come on nine completions in his final nine attempts for 140 yards.
With 11 victories in his first 18 starts, and nearly half of them coming in this clutch fashion, the question has to be asked: How do the Steelers get that version of Pickett to show up more often?
This isn’t to take away what Pickett has done in those “weighty moments,” as Mike Tomlin would call them. Nor is it to throw cold water on another seemingly improbable win that now has the Steelers sitting at 4-2 and just a half-game back of first place in the AFC North.
It’s more about finding consistency for an offense that hasn’t scored a TD on the opening drive of a game since December 8th, 2022 in Carolina. And that’s the lone first drive TD in the team’s last 17 games.
A full season’s worth of games with just one opening drive touchdown, for an organization that’s built their roster and offensive and defensive philosophies around not having to play from behind is hard to even wrap your head around.
Easier to understand are the numbers Pickett has put together on those five game-winning drives over the last 18 games: 24-of-31 (77.4% completion rate) for 302 yards, 3 TDs, and a 139.5 QB Rating.
Now imagine numbers even remotely close to those early in games, rather than the 68.9 QB Rating Pickett currently has in 1st Quarters.
Yesterday Pickett was 5-of-7 for 70 yards in the 1st Quarter against the Rams. It may actually be a start in the right direction, but it’s only that for now: Just a start.
Watt’s Happening
Yet again, the NFL’s co-leader in sacks made a huge play on defense that swung a game in the Steelers direction.
Only this time, it was T.J. Watt stepping in front of a Matthew Stafford pass intended for Puca Nacua on the first play of the second half and returning an interception all the way to the Rams’ 7-yard line, impressing his big brother in the process.
Where would the Steelers be without Watt?
Just consider this your weekly reminder that since he joined them in 2017, the Steelers are 1-10 without Watt.
Oh, Snap!
Postgame snap counts paint a clearer picture of some depth chart shuffling that may have unofficially taken place right before our eyes.
With Pat Freiermuth out at tight end, Connor Heyward (51) actually logged 20 more snaps than rookie Darnell Washington (31).
Joey Porter, Jr. (53) also logged four more snaps at corner than Levi Wallace (49).
Whether either of those trends continue on Sunday when the Jacksonville Jaguars come to town is something to keep an eye on.
Diontae Johnson was somewhat limited in his return to the lineup, registering 39 snaps on the Steelers’ 59 offensive plays.