3 Takeaways from Steelers' Week 4 Loss vs. Jets
The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their third game of the 2022 season on Sunday, losing a tight 24-20 contest to the New York Jets.
The loss keeps Pittsburgh in the AFC North basement and essentially erases any lingering promise from its Week 1 upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers lost star pass-rusher T.J. Watt (torn pectoral) in that game, and they haven't picked up a victory since.
In many ways, Sunday's loss was the most disappointing of the season thus far. The Jets aren't exactly an elite team, and Pittsburgh fell flat in multiple phases. The Steelers also decided to allow rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett to step in at quarterback but did not get the desired offensive spark.
Ultimately, it was Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, who got the win in his 2022 debut. While it's never wise to write off the Steelers, it's looking more and more like Week 1 was a fluke.
Here's what we learned from Pittsburgh's loss to the Jets in Week 4.
Mike Tomlin's Streak Is in Serious Jeopardy
Here's why it's never smart to discount the Steelers: Since head coach Mike Tomlin was hired in 2007, Pittsburgh has never experienced a losing season. It was 1-3 last year, too, and still managed to make the playoffs.
However, this season's 1-3 start feels quite different. In 2021, Pittsburgh lost to playoff teams in Cincinnati, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Green Bay Packers to open the season. This year, it's been the Jets, New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns—all teams that will have a tough time making the postseason.
What's worse is that the Steelers haven't found an area on which it can lean. Last year, it was an opportunistic defense and Pro Bowl-caliber play from running back Najee Harris. This year, the defense isn't smothering anyone without Watt in the lineup, and Harris has been largely inefficient.
Though he did average 4.1 yards per carry against New York, the running back has averaged just 3.5 yards per carry on the season.
The Steelers are a flawed team that must play flawlessly to pick up victories in 2022. That didn't happen against New York and probably isn't going to happen often this season. This may finally be the year in which Tomlin has his first losing season.
Kenny Pickett Is Not Going to Save the Offense
While the Steelers defense isn't going to completely shut opponents down, it can make plays. It held the Jets to just 3.4 yards per carry and picked off Wilson twice. The problem is that Pittsburgh couldn't get enough offensively to keep pace on the scoreboard.
Turning to Pickett in place of Mitch Trubisky provided a bit of a spark—the rookie had two rushing touchdowns—but it also led to major miscues. The 24-year-old finished 10-of-13 for 120 yards and three interceptions.
While Pickett may threaten opposing secondaries more than Trubisky has, he's not going to turn the Steelers offense into a juggernaut. He's too inexperienced, and Pittsburgh's offensive line and ground game are too problematic.
This doesn't mean that making a permanent switch to Pickett isn't the right move for Pittsburgh. The rookie is the future, and the Steelers don't have a ton to gain by playing for the present. Of course, Tomlin hasn't committed to Pickett long-term just yet.
"I'm not going to talk extended as we sit here," he said, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Pickett should be the extended starter, both for his own development and for the future of the franchise. However, fans shouldn't expect the rookie to be the Steelers' savior.
George Pickens Needs to be Bigger Piece of the Game Plan
While Pickett made too many mistakes to truly spark the offense, he did provide a little juice early in the second half. He led a pair of touchdown drives and established a connection with George Pickens.
Pickett found the rookie receiver four times, and the Georgia product finished with six catches for 102 yards.
The Steelers must continue getting Pickens the ball moving forward. He has the ability to make game-changing plays—like his ludicrous one-handed catch against Cleveland last week—and he seems to have a real chemistry with the quarterback.
However, Pickens hadn't been largely involved in the offense prior to Week 4. He had just five receptions for 64 yards through his first three contests.
Like Pickett, the 21-year-old can be an integral part of the Steelers' future foundation. It's time for offensive coordinator Matt Canada to make the wideout a focal point of the passing attack now.