Steelers Daily Links: Pickett Taking Shots, Bills on Sack List

The Pittsburgh Steelers might be trying harder than you think to secure a deep passing game, and one of Buffalo’s defensive ends is creeping up the sack board.

 Through four games, the Steelers have the most passing attempts of 20+ yards downfield as a team with 28. Pittsburgh’s total quarterback rating ranks 26th. Both of the Steelers passers are in the top six when it comes to average depth of target, with Kenny Pickett leading the NFL with 13.2 yards and Mitch Trubisky sixth at 10.1.

 Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott isn’t impressed with Najee Harris. “He’s not Saquon Barkley. I don’t see special when I see him,” Scott said on ESPN’s Get Up. Saquan Barkley has rushed for more yards (463) than 21 teams this season, which includes the Steelers.

 Former Steelers offensive lineman Trai Essex thinks Mitch Trubisky wouldn’t have been benched if Diontae Johnson got his other foot in bounds for a touchdown against the New York Jets. “You hear about how this game is one of inches. How an inch here or there can win or lose football games,” Essex said on Twitter. “It can also extend or cut short someone’s playing time/career. I wholeheartedly believe if Diontae were able to get that toe in, Mitch would’ve started the 2nd half.”

 The Buffalo Bills defense has allowed just seven points in the second half this year. All to the Miami Dolphins. They have shut out the Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens in the second half.

 Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau is tied for third in the NFL in sacks with five. He has 88 pass rush snaps. Rousseau is tied in sacks with Rashan Gary (97 rushes) and Khalil Mack (132). Nick Bosa leads the league in sacks with six, and has 123 pass rush snaps. Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (146 rushes) is tied for second with 5.5 sacks.

 The Steelers have the second-best pass blocking offensive line in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.

 Former Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke said on 93.7 The Fan that if T.J. Watt doesn’t get hurt, the Steelers would be 4-0 right now.

 Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and tight end Zach Gentry were named co-captains for Rock Steelers Style: A New Era, the 2022 edition of the team’s annual fashion show. The event will take place on Friday, October 14 at Stage AE at 6 p.m., with the show presented by Neighborhood Ford Store, PNC, UPMC, and UPMC Health Plan.

 Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks the Steelers will be “physically overmatched” against the Bills on Sunday.

 According to PFF, the Steelers have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL. The Steeles next four games are against the Bills, Buccaneers, Dolphins and Eagles, which is a brutal stretch. The four teams have a combined record of 12-4 this season. Only the game against the Buccaneers is at home.

 The Indianapolis Colts’ 12-9 overtime win over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night was painful to watch, to say the least. According to NFL Research, the Colts-Broncos matchup was the first game with 0 touchdowns and 4+ interceptions since the Colts beat the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of 2003. Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Kelly Holcomb had two interceptions each as the game ended 9-6. Per Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first game in NFL history that featured two opposing quarterbacks each passing for 250+ yards while neither team scored a touchdown. There had been seven games that featured 0 total touchdowns with opposing quarterbacks throwing for at least 200+ yards. The last two featured Russell Wilson.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

 The Steelers have their final practice session of the week at 10:30 a.m. — Nick Farabaugh

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