For most of the night, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense wasn't all that inspiring. Down 10-6 heading into the last drive of the game, rookie quarterback, Kenny Pickett put together a Ben Roethlisberger-esque march down the field. The first year signal-caller delivered when it mattered most on a night in which Pittsburgh desperately needed a victory in honor of the late, Franco Harris.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Kenny Pickett throws a pass vs the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve, 2022 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Photo Credit - Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
After the game, many speculated that Pickett called his own plays on that final drive. Wide receiver George Pickens' talk had some confused. Of course, fans will do anything they can to discredit offensive coordinator and season-long scapegoat, Matt Canada. Most of that has been warranted, but this time around, it seems it was premature. Many of the players' postgame interviews suggested the quarterback did not indeed call his own plays. Pickett essentially attributed Canada for calling those final plays:
"Yeah I mean, there's no ra-ra speech that's gonna put the ball in the endzone. Everyone's gotta lock in, do their job," Pickett said after the Week 16 victory. "I'm gonna call the plays, we're gonna get it relayed in. I told them that they're gonna execute, I'll execute, and we're gonna win the game."
That's the exact poise and maturity you want to hear from your quarterback after an emotional win. It's not that big of a deal as to who called the plays, but this is just to provide some sort of clarity. Pickett specifically stated that those plays were relayed in. The Steelers executed the plays, regardless of who called them, and scored the game-winning touchdown. Now, there seems to be some more hope for the postseason, albeit still slim odds.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (#8) and wide receiver George Pickens (#14) get hyped during a 2022 regular season matchup against the New Orleans Saints at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Sitting at 7-8, the black and gold can make the playoffs by winning their final two games and having some help from other teams. Their final two opponents are AFC North rivals as well in the Baltimore Ravens and concluded by the Cleveland Browns. All in all, Pickett has continued to show the signs of progression. That's just what you want to see out of a rookie quarterback, as he continues to build chemistry with wideouts Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
What were your thoughts on Pickett's performance? Should Canada still be canned after the 2022 season? What are your hopes like for the postseason odds at this point? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, as well as on our social media sites!
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