The Pittsburgh Steelers made a significant offensive statement last Sunday, showcasing their potential in a 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Notably, this game marked the Steelers' first outing without former Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, who had been leading the offense. Instead, the reins were handed over to Eddie Faulkner, who assumed the role of offensive coordinator, with Mike Sullivan calling the plays.
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Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan talk on the sideline Sunday in Cleveland.
Kenny Pickett Providing Steelers Fans With Hope
Under the new offensive leadership of Faulkner and Sullivan, quarterback Kenny Pickett delivered his most impressive passing performance of the 2023 season. Pickett threw for 278 yards, completing an impressive 72.7% of his passes while protecting the football. Additionally, he displayed a willingness to target the middle of the field, a dimension of the game that had been largely absent from the Steelers' playbook throughout the season. Pickett's growing confidence in the pocket began to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of Steelers fans, making them reconsider prematurely turning the page on him.
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Steelers' Kenny Pickett rolls out to throw a pass Sunday against the Bengals.
Although he didn't toss any touchdown passes in this game, there is optimism among Steelers fans that Pickett might soon find the end zone through the air more frequently.
Eyeing the Arizona Cardinals Matchup
The Steelers' next challenge comes in the form of the Arizona Cardinals, and many are hoping to see Pickett connect for touchdown passes against their below average secondary.
The Cardinals currently rank 29th in the NFL in terms of passing touchdowns allowed to opposing quarterbacks, conceding an average of 1.8 per game. This sets the stage for an opportunity for Pickett to shine and for the Steelers' offense to find the end zone. Perhaps, just perhaps, the Steelers can achieve back-to-back 400+ yard performances in total offense, but this time with a greater output in terms of points and touchdown passes.
Eddie Faulkner's Optimism
#Steelers OC Eddie Faulkner feels like the offense is buying in pic.twitter.com/Akt8NlWAu0
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Faulkner, the newly appointed interim offensive coordinator, has expressed optimism about the offense's progress, despite the recent struggles under Canada.
"We just keep on hammering away. I think I said last week the importance of details and ironing those out. I believe it'll come with that. You know, I think the guys are all in on the understanding, and I know the points weren't what we want, but the success we had last week really provided me with a good stage to be able to coach, to sink the hook in, and to get the guys to buy in and be like, 'Oh, okay, let's go.' So, it made this week easier in the process of preparation."
Balancing Optimism with Realism
While Faulkner is encouraged by the offense's performance in the previous game, he remains grounded, acknowledging a significant concern—scoring points. Specifically, the Steelers fell short of scoring multiple touchdowns. As they prepare to face a below-average Cardinals defense, Steelers fans eagerly anticipate a clearer understanding of the revamped offense and its potential.
In the unforgiving realm of the NFL, no game is a guaranteed victory, and every opponent poses its challenges. For the Steelers to truly impress and inspire excitement about their new offensive direction, I believe they need to score four or more touchdowns against the Cardinals at home.
While this notion might seem a bit far-fetched to Steelers fans who have closely followed the team's offensive struggles throughout the season, it's important to recall that just last Sunday, the 5-6 Los Angeles Rams managed to put up an impressive 37 points against the very same Cardinals defense.
Scoring multiple touchdowns is a benchmark that would signal not only a successful transition, but also the potential for this offense to become a potent force in the league. The Steelers are literally an average offense away from being Super Bowl threats.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback, Kyler Murray (#1) scrambles and attempts to make a move while carrying the football during a regular season football game.
As the Steelers prepare to take on Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, all eyes will be on their offense, particularly Pickett, as they aim to translate their optimism into points on the scoreboard. The transition under Faulkner and Sullivan is underway, and the Cardinals matchup presents an ideal opportunity to gauge the progress and potential of this evolving Steelers offense.
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