Steelers notch wins in the past, present, and future on Saturday night vs. Raiders
The Pittsburgh Steelers community celebrated the life of a franchise legend on Saturday night, but it was the future stars of the team -as well as a couple of current ones- that made the most noise. The Steelers entered the fourth quarter down 10-3 to the Las Vegas Raiders and things weren't looking great at […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers community celebrated the life of a franchise legend on Saturday night, but it was the future stars of the team -as well as a couple of current ones- that made the most noise.
The Steelers entered the fourth quarter down 10-3 to the Las Vegas Raiders and things weren't looking great at the time. The defense did its job throughout the night, but a couple of missed kicks and an ill-timed interception from Kenny Pickett kept the offense from putting more points on the board.
Things changed once the final quarter started, however. Pickett, Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth, and George Pickens came to life and were key factors in helping the Steelers amass 118 total net yards and 10 points over their first three drives of the fourth quarter.
The future of the Steelers was on full display throughout the course of those three drives and it's almost impossible to be impressed at how well each and every one of them performed.
"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't lack of moving the ball. We just didn't finish drives," Mike Tomlin told reporters after the game. "We missed a couple field goals, threw an interception. You know, just got to be better in those areas, and we'll keep working.
"But as a collective, particularly some of the young offensive skill guys, I thought it was a grow-up night. 8 [Kenny Pickett] and 14 [George Pickens] and 22 [Najee Harris] and 88 [Pat Freiermuth] and 18 [Diontae Johnson], all of them. They showed poise and resolve and made the necessary plays, and so we move forward. We move forward with a really good Christmas."
Pickett and co. marched right down the field to start the fourth quarter and the rookie QB showed a ton of poise despite the drive stalling out at the Raiders 22.
It was just enough of a spark to keep the Steelers defense rolling, however, and Cam Heyward added to the comeback attempt with his second sack of the game on the Raiders' subsequent drive.
"I thought Pat [Freiermuth] played a really good game," Heyward said after the game. "GP [George Pickens] and Diontae [Johnson] caught some really big balls for us. Najee finishing plays. And them just having the poison the last drive. You see an offense really grow in that moment."
But it was the final drive that mattered the most. And not because it resulted in the game-winning touchdown drive for the Steelers.
It's because, once again, Pickett looked like the franchise quarterback the Steelers envisioned when they drafted him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
His first three passes went for 33-yards and immediately placed the Steelers in Raiders territory. He later came through with a clutch 1-yard gain on 4th and 1 before finding Pickett in the end zone from 14-yards out on the very next play.
"We needed seven [points] at the end, we needed that touchdown, and for him [Pickett] to answer the bell, for that whole offensive group to answer the bell, was pretty special," said Heyward.
The Steelers may be 7-8 and in need of a miracle when it comes to obtaining a postseason berth, but the future is very bright thanks to the collective efforts of these young core pieces. The quartet of Pickett, Harris, Freiermuth, and Pickens can easily form the core of the Steelers offense for many, many years to come.
And to think that all of this could come to fruition within a few seasons is even more impressive.
"They made the plays when called upon," said Tomlin. "I think the end of the game kind of reflected that.. We’ve just got a bunch of young guys that's got some talent. They're getting better. They are good enough to win as that happens."
It's not often that an NFL franchise gets to celebrate the past, present, and future all in one night, but that was the case for the Steel City on Sunday.
And if these guys continue to play and develop as expected, then it's safe to say there will be plenty more reasons to celebrate all three phases as the years pass.
Featured image via Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK
