It may seem silly to doubt a highly touted first-round pick, but Kenny Pickett gave Steelers fans plenty to worry about in his first few starts. Heading into Monday’s matchup against the Colts, the rookie quarterback had thrown eight interceptions and just three touchdowns. His quarterback rating has been subpar, never ranking above the mid-80s, and his advanced metrics don’t exactly light the world on fire.
But with his display in Indianapolis, Pickett turned heads. He looked poised under center and helped lead a struggling Pittsburgh Steelers team to their second win in three weeks. What about Pickett’s performance has people coming around on the rookie quarterback?
Pittsburgh Steelers starting to see that Kenny Pickett is the answer?
Looking at the box score won’t tell the whole story. If you only perused the stats, you’d be inclined to believe Pickett played a mediocre game. He threw for just 174 yards, with zero touchdowns. But watching the action tells another story. A story about composure.
Monday marked Pickett’s second primetime start of his young career. His first came back in October resulting in a loss to the Miami Dolphins. How did he fare? Three interceptions and a quarterback rating of 66.2. Monday against the Colts, Pickett threw zero interceptions and recorded his highest QBR of the season.
It may not seem like much, but it is a step in the right direction. Pickett improved in his second game under the lights and showed that he can lead a winning team. The offense around him looked the best they have all season.
Najee Harris helped give Pittsburgh a 13-0 lead in the second quarter on a six-yard touchdown but left with an injury before halftime. The injury threatened to derail the team’s momentum, but Pickett helped steer the ship.
He spread the ball to his dynamic young receivers. Diontae Johnson and George Pickens both made big plays to extend drives, and keep the Colts off the field. The offense received a boost from backup running backs Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland Jr. The two combined for over 100 all-purpose yards, allowing Pickett to control the clock.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Pickett’s performance on Monday was his ability to extend the play. In college, he earned a reputation as a dangerous scrambler. On Monday he proved that his skills can translate to the pros. On six rushing attempts, Pickett gained 32 yards, helping the team rush for 172 total yards. But even when Pickett decided to throw the ball, his legs helped create chances.
In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh scored a touchdown to take a five-point lead. They elected to try a two-point conversion in order to extend their margin to seven. Immediately, Pickett’s pocket collapsed. He needed to escape pressure and decided to roll out. By escaping the pressure, Pickett bought time for his wide receivers to find space. Pickett eventually found George Pickens in the back of the end zone, effectively clinching the game for Pittsburgh.
Whether it was finding yards with his legs, or staying composed under pressure, Kenny Pickett displayed tremendous poise in his second-ever primetime appearance. He shepherded a depleted Steelers offense to their second-most points all season. It may not have been the most electric performance, but he did what Steelers fans expect their quarterback to do… WIN.