Kenny Pickett, Steelers Offense Demolish Falcons Defense

The Steelers offense and Kenny Pickett continued their red-hot preseason with two more touchdown drives against the Falcons’ defense. A caveat here is that this occurred against mostly backups for the Falcons. However, seeing the team continue the momentum they started against the Buccaneers two weeks ago in Tampa Bay is no less impressive.

After a penalty on the kickoff by Mark Robinson, the team dipped back to their own 8-yard line, but that did not stop Kenny Pickett from leading the team down the field. It started slowly, with the Steelers gaining just five yards in two plays. However, Pickett hit a wide-open Diontae Johnson down the sideline on a go route for a 33-yard rip. Johnson got open off the line of scrimmage, but the throw by Pickett is just as impressive.

The run game took over, with Najee Harris ripping off a 13-yard gain two plays later. Isaac Seumalo ripped open the left side of the offensive line for Harris to scamper straight through it. George Pickens mossed an opposing Falcons cornerback for 35 yards to set the team up in business. One play later, Harris punched the ball into the endzone. On that drive, Pickett went 3 for 3 for 70 yards while the Steelers travelled 92 yards in 8 plays with 3 explosive plays.

On the next drive, Calvin Austin III busted his way into Falcons territory on a 21-yard punt return. A screen pass to Harris opened up that drive with a 16-yard gain. Two plays later, Jaylen Warren punched into the endzone for an 8 yard touchdown behind a ferocious block from Chuks Okorafor.

Overall, the Steelers first-team offense scored two touchdowns on 11 plays with 125 yards across those plays. Pickett finished 4 for 4 for 82 yards. On the preseason, he had a perfect passer rating. All five drives engineered by him have ended in touchdowns.

To say the least, the Steelers offense, in five drives this preseason led by Kenny Pickett, is approaching 10 explosive plays overall, too. Little can be asked from the first offense after what they did this preseason. Mike Tomlin said he would play the starters long enough until he was satisfied with what he saw, and both times, he intended to play them longer; Tomlin pulled the starters midway through the first quarter. That speaks volumes to where Tomlin sees his offense right now.