Steelers' Kenny Pickett In Incredible Rarefied Air With Tom Brady And Patrick Mahomes

The Pittsburgh Steelers might have the best quarterback in the NFL if Kenny Pickett could figure out a way to play like he does in the fourth quarter, for the entire game. Sure, that's a bold statement, but the numbers don't lie. The second-year signal-caller lives for the final 15 minutes of games and has proven that over the course of his 20 professional starts. He had led seven different fourth quarter game-winning drives and while fans are constantly on the edge of their seats, he seems to always find a way late in close games to the lead the offense down the field for a score.

No one is calling Pickett a future Hall of Famer, or anything close to that, but after Thursday night's fourth quarter game-winning drive, it gave the Steelers faithful another reason to buy stock in Ben Roethlisberger's successor. Pickett isn't entering the "Big Ben" conversation just yet, but he is on a short list of quarterbacks when it comes to the final 15 minutes. Here's a hint: he's in the same discussion as the best quarterback of all-time.

Not everyone buys into everything that Pro Football Focus is selling, but Pickett being as clutch in the fourth quarter as Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes can't go unnoticed. Speaking to the media after the win, Pickett noted that most games in the NFL are close, and it's no a coincidence that he really turns it on when it matters most.

"You look around the NFL, there's a lot of one-possession games... The fact that we continue to find ways to win is a huge advantage."

It isn't always pretty, but somehow, someway, the Steelers quarterback is coming up clutch at the end of games. Wins aren't always pretty in the Steel City, but a 5-3 record eight games into the 2023 season is nothing to scoff at.

The defensive side of the ball is also taking notice to Pickett's ability to come through in the clutch. Edge rusher, TJ Watt was speaking to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo after the contest and had one simple word to describe his quarterback's play.

"Moxie. Kenny Pickett's got moxie. He's always had moxie and I'm glad he's on our team."

Pittsburgh isn't winning games the conventional way and every week is bound to bring a new heart-stopping finish, but it's hard to ignore the fact that Pickett is always going to give them a chance to win in one-score games. The challenge is having that kind of play translate to all 60 minutes, but every fan base in the NFL would take a 5-3 record with strong fourth quarter play "at this juncture" as Head Coach Mike Tomlin would say.

Pickett may have only been 19 of 30 for 160 yards and a touchdown, but winning ugly has always been in Tomlin's repertoire and it doesn't seem like that is going to change any time soon. There is no way that the 2023 Steelers should be 5-3 and in the thick of the division and Wild Card races, but somehow they are right in the middle of the conversation.

Steelers Need To Capitalize In Week 10 Before Tough Two-Game Stretch

Pittsburgh has a very winnable game at home against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. A win would catapult the Steelers to 6-3 with two crucial games within the division up next. Tomlin and co. have the Cleveland Browns in Week 11 and a resurgent Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 12. Heading into December with a record, at worst, of 6-5 wouldn't be a bad situation. Win two of the next three, at the bare minimum, and sitting at 7-4 would be the most ideal scenario when the Arizona Cardinals come to town in Week 13.

Do you think Pickett has Mahomes and Brady-type magic in the fourth quarter? Let us know in the comments below!

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