CLEVELAND (93.7 The Fan) – “That’s a great question. We have to get in and find out.”
Probably not the reaction to want to hear when quarterback Kenny Pickett is asked what has to happen to change their offense and what is missing from that Steelers offense.
Steelers only touchdown was on a breakaway run from Jaylen Warren and they didn’t let him touch the ball on the final drive. Pickett was 15-28 for 106 yards.
He also had some miscommunication with receivers, which he admits is always concerning when it happens. He says they have to be better on third down, 3-14 for 21% against the Browns. He said the were expecting more man-to-man and had to adjust because they gave them a lot of zone looks.
Mike Tomlin made sure to credit the Browns defense.
“They have a really good defense,” Tomlin said. “They make a lot of offenses look like that. Coupled with their venue, we have to give them some credit. We knew their reputation in Week 2. Maybe the rest of the National Football League didn’t. It’s kind of been confirmed in the weeks after that and obviously they were really good today.”
When asked a few more times about Pickett’s struggles, Tomlin reiterated that the Browns are good. The stats back that up, but seven yards a completion with the longest pass 14 yards.
Pickett said he’s always confident in himself. He said it’s the ultimate team game, that we have heard a few times this year. He said they have to come together and figure this thing out.
“I don’t know what it is like to play that position, but I do know what it’s like to have ups and downs in this league,” said center Mason Cole. “This league is tough man. There’s going to be really good weeks and really bad weeks. The bad weeks are the ones you just have to pull yourself through.”
“Kenny’s got a heck of a future. He’s a heck of a football player. Heck of a teammate. He’ll get through it. We’ll get through it and come out on the other end of it.”
It’s the first division loss and they are still 6-4. But as Najee Harris said after, if they keep playing like this, even if they squeak out wins, they aren’t going nowhere.