The Pittsburgh Steelers were the only team in the NFL to select a quarterback in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It was the first time since 2013 a quarterback was not selected in the top 15 picks and only one quarterback was selected in the first round.
Kenny Pickett made his regular season debut for the Steelers at halftime of a loss to the New York Jets and led a thrilling comeback to go ahead in the game before the defense allowed the Jets to steal the game. According to Pro Football Reference, the rookie has been credited with delivering a 4-4 record as the starter and is getting comfortable as the starter.
Photo Credit: Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images
Pickett will get his first opportunity to play against the Baltimore Ravens this week and despite the Steelers' hunt designation in the AFC playoff picture, the game is being largely ignored by the national media. The Ravens and Steelers will meet at 1 p.m. in Pittsburgh on Sunday and they aren’t even the national game in that window. That honor belongs to the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. It begs the question, why are the Steelers and Pickett irrelevant stories outside of Pittsburgh?
Is it Steelers fatigue? The Steelers have had nine losing seasons since the AFL-NFL merger and even in the “down” decade of the 1980s, they made multiple playoff appearances and even made an AFC championship game. In fact, since the merger, the Steelers have not gone a decade without an appearance in the conference championship game and have made the playoffs 32 times in 51 years. A whopping 62 percent of the time. They are 500-317-4 since 1970 and have six Lombardi Trophies.
Steeler Nation is the best fan base in the NFL. The Bills mafia notwithstanding, Steelers fans travel like no other fan base. Look no further than last week in Atlanta, where at best, it was a neutral site game for the black and gold. In 2019 when Devlin “Duck” Hodges led the Steelers against the Los Angeles Chargers on the road, they played the Pittsburgh anthem “Renegade” in the fourth quarter of a crucial victory during a Sunday Night Football game on NBC. This season, NBC decided to flex Pittsburgh and a rabid national following against the defending AFC Champions.
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - OCTOBER 23: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) makes a throw on the run during the game between the Pittsburg Steelers and the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL. | Photo Credit: Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Pickett’s play early was uneven and after stumbling against the Miami Dolphins in a winnable game and getting shellacked by the Philadelphia Eagles, they limped into the bye week. The Pitt Panther rookie has gone 3-1 since that week off. He has played turnover-free football and the Steelers have benefited greatly from a balanced attack that has produced enough points for the defense to hold on late. The rookie has made plays with his head and feet and it has turned the season around.
After winning in front of a national audience on Monday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts with his first come-from-behind victory as a pro, his performance was largely ignored by the talking heads, because of Jeff Saturday’s time management. Pickett played with poise after the Steelers blew a 16-3 lead and calmly led Pittsburgh back with a huge drive that culminated with a two-point conversion pass to his fellow rookie George Pickens. The national media debate shows have spent far more time discussing Baker Mayfield, who until last night, was historically bad this season and was benched by the Carolina Panthers.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 23: Jordan Addison #3 of the Pittsburgh Panthers celebrates with Kenny Pickett #8 after a 23-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Heinz Field on October 23, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo Credit: Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Pickett is the only first-round rookie quarterback this season and he is playing .500 football. Recent first-round quarterbacks have dominated the airwaves, both good and bad. Pickett has made himself a newsworthy story. But the lazy talking points of the offensive line are bad, Pickett isn’t very good and they are just not competitive seems set in stone. The Steelers are steadily creeping towards relevance in 2022 instead of a top-five draft pick and it seems like the people who televise the NFL are dreading the outcome.
Pittsburgh has rarely been a non-factor in December and despite their best efforts by starting 2-6, Mike Tomlin just couldn't find a way to not play meaningful football late in the 2022 season. It isn’t pretty, but it is the Steelers' way.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Are you tired of generic narratives surrounding the Steelers? Comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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