Analysis: The key to a Steelers turnaround? Get George Pickens back in the right frame of mind.

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec 29, 2024

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — George Pickens was called out by Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for being lazy and not running his route when Russell Wilson threw an interception in the end zone Wednesday afternoon against the Chiefs. Pickens was supposed to run a vertical route and occupy Chiefs safety Justin Reid, who easily drifted toward tight end Pat Freiermuth and made the pick when he had no responsibilities on his side of the field.

It wasn't the only time in the game Pickens didn't run his route. On the opening series of the game, on third-and-2, Pickens jogged a few steps off the line of scrimmage and turned around, never expecting to get the ball thrown his way. Wilson took a sack, and the Steelers were forced to punt.

The Steelers were expecting to get a big lift with the return of Pickens, who had missed the three previous games with a hamstring injury. He had a 41-yard catch early in the game but only had two more for 9 yards after that. He was visibly frustrated in the second half when Wilson threw a deep ball to Mike Williams on the other side of the field when Pickens also had one-on-one coverage on his side of the field.

"There is going to be adversity in every season," quarterback Russell Wilson said. "It comes at different times. I'm betting on our guys, on who we are and how we're going to respond. I really believe in who we are. It's been a tough road the past three weeks. We haven't been able to overcome some of the challenges along the way. We have to make that a good thing for us.

"In the playoffs, it becomes 0-0. That's the truth of the playoffs and the opportunity we have. Our belief can't waver. The adversity can break you down. The adversity can challenge you and affect you negatively, or the adversity can challenge you in a way that there is growth."

Those are some wise and timely words from Wilson as the Steelers completed their toughest stretch of the season. The Steelers scored a season-low 10 points against the Chiefs and they averaged 13 points per game during a three-game losing streak that also included losses to the Eagles and Ravens.

No team in the NFL had to play three opponents of that caliber consecutively all season — much less in the span of 11 days.

The best way for the Steelers offense to get back on track, as strange as it might sound given his lapses in the blowout loss to the Chiefs, is to try to fix Pickens and get him in the right frame of mind for the playoffs.

That might be easier said than done, but it's by far their best chance of winning.

The Steelers are 7-1 when Pickens is their leading receiver. They're 3-0 when Pickens scores a touchdown.

Receivers coach Zach Azzanni might be the most important person at 34 South Water St. over the next week. Remember what he said back in October about his job?

"I'm part receivers coach and part psychologist. ... Every week, I learn what buttons to push."

The Steelers will be counting on Azzanni to push the right buttons this week. There might be a time when the Steelers are a physically dominant team in the trenches and can beat teams up with their running game, but they're not that type of a team now.

The reason the Steelers signed Wilson was his veteran leadership and ability to push the ball down the field. Coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith should put the ball in Wilson's hands and let him distribute the ball to Pickens and his other playmakers.

Freiermuth leads the team with six touchdown receptions. Feed him the ball more — and not just in the red zone.

Calvin Austin III has taken some big steps in his development this season. Give him a bigger role.

And feed running back Jaylen Warren the bulk of the carries in the running game and targets in the passing game. After Pickens, he might be the offense's best playmaker. He's averaging 8.2 yards per catch out of the backfield.

"It's frustrating, but there are solutions to it," Austin said.

The Steelers scored a season-high 44 points one month ago in Cincinnati when they had Wilson attempt a season-high 38 passes. Smith had him come out throwing on first down. He threw to his running backs early and often and sprinkled in some big plays to Pickens and others in a dominating performance.

The Bengals visit Acrisure Stadium for the regular-season finale next weekend, and Smith should build the game plan around Wilson and the passing game again.

It might be a risky approach in the playoffs, but what do the Steelers have to lose at this point? They are going to have to score in bunches if the defense can't fix its problems, and the best way to do that is by trusting Wilson and his young weapons on offense.

"We want to catch that momentum going into the playoffs," Wilson said. "There are highs and lows in every season. We have to make sure we end this game on the right footing. That will be key in how we respond. There's been some ups and downs. We have to recover physically but mentally press in and study and figure out what we can do. There are all these teams we can beat. We can play better. When we do play better, we'll be a scary team to play, but we have to make sure that's the case."