Derrick’s Dudes & Duds: Pickens Pops Off, Jones Struggles Continue

You have to give credit to Mike Tomlin’s Steelers for coming into this matchup, fresh off three-straight embarrassing losses, and absolutely putting it on the Cincinnati Bengals. This was a game that both teams absolutely had to have if they wanted to preserve their playoff hopes and it was fairly obvious which unit wanted this one more. The Steelers set a season-high in points scored at 34 while holding the Bengals offense to 11, significantly below their standard over the past three weeks during their win streak. There are plenty of impact plays and players to talk about from this one.

Dude- George Pickens

George Pickens made headlines for all the wrong reasons last week. But today against the Bengals, you got a pretty clear understanding of why Tomlin is willing to overlook some of the antics. The second-round receiver dominated, putting on a Randy Moss-esque performance with four catches, 195 yards and a pair of long touchdowns. He set the tone on the first passing play of the game, beating press coverage before taking a slant to the house. Beyond his improved run after catch ability, his best traits such as his speed, tracking and body control were all evident.