Hey Steelers fans. Welcome to Monday.
The Kickoff
Now we know. The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to end their four-game losing streak with a win at Baltimore in the AFC Wild-Card Round. The teams will clash Saturday night at 8pmET on Amazon Prime. I think I speak for all of Steeler Nation when I say I think we’d rather have been traveling to Houston but hey, should we expect any less the way the last month has gone? The last team to enter the playoffs on a four-game skid was the 1999 Detroit Lions. They went on to lose in the first round at Washington. Confidence is not high among the faithful and with good reason. One team couldn’t be hotter while the other (us) couldn’t be colder. But the postseason is always different so who knows? Let’s just say a lot of things will need to go right for us to win on Saturday.
Pickens
No player this season has had his own section in Hot Reads quite like George Pickens has. I suppose no other player was quite as deserving to be honest. Pickens once again gets his own spot today after his performance on Saturday night. Earlier in the week he refused to answer a question regarding whether he had run the correct route against the Chiefs. To top off his “stellar” week he caught one ball, dropped three and had to be restrained by teammates as he got into it with fans in the stands during the game. Then he refused to answer questions postgame. I’ve got more thoughts on his future coming later this week.
In a Nutshell
There were two specific examples of just how bad things are for Arthur Smith right now. First was the fact that Jaylen Warren had six, yes, SIX touches on Saturday. Secondly, with 4:32 remaining in the game and trailing by five, Smith called the biggest head scratcher of the evening. Following a first down to Pat Freiermuth, Smith called for a wide run to the right with Cordarrelle Patterson. He was dropped for a loss and then Russell Wilson was sacked on the next play. It has been abundantly clear that Patterson cannot go east and west anymore. He’s a straight ahead guy and nothing more. This example leads right back to the first. Warren wasn’t available?? Just a brutal night for Smith and the offense.
In Defense…
As you’re aware, the league’s highest paid defense was abused by Philly, Baltimore and Kansas City. Despite a horrible start Saturday in which they gave up 10 points on the first two drives, they recovered and surrendered just nine points the rest of the way. If I had told you the D would give up 19 points and just over 300 yards to the NFL’s hottest offense, you’d have to like our chances right? Look, the defense has not lived up to its billing but the loss to Cincy wasn’t on them.
The QBs
Personally I do not think there’s any debate; Russell Wilson will start Saturday night. After the loss to the Bengals it is more than fair to suggest Justin Fields should get a shot. It wouldn’t be all that fair to Fields either seeing as he hasn’t played meaningful minutes since week six. That said, if the offense is sputtering again with Wilson, Tomlin may not have a choice.
Random Reads
As much as it pains me I have to admit that Lamar Jackson is likely going to win his third MVP. Josh Allen is right there but I think the Raven wins it… Kudos to the Bengals for making a run at the playoffs but their early season losses were too much to overcome. Their offseason is going to be interesting… Cleveland has already fired their OC Ken Dorsey… New England has already fired HC Jerod Mayo after just one season… Like most Steelers’ fans, I love the tradition that is ‘Renegade’ but can’t help but wonder if it hasn’t run its course… No, I do not want Tyreek Hill coming to Pittsburgh. He’s 31 and will cost a boat load in a trade… No surprise here but the Jaguars have fired HC Doug Pederson. By the way, he’s won a Super Bowl and been fired twice in the same time that the Steelers haven’t won a postseason game.
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