Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett shone in a 44-38 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, leading his team to their highest-scoring game since 2018. Pickett completed 8 of 9 passes over 10 air yards for 205 yards and two touchdowns, showcasing his full arsenal of skills. The Steelers’ 520 total yards were their most in a game since 2018, and the team’s 44 points were the most in a road game since 2000.
Despite the Bengals’ defense getting toasted at times, Pickett’s performance was a highlight of the game. He dropped moonballs, fit a perfect 23-yard seam shot touchdown to Calvin Austin III, and found targets on scramble drills. When the Bengals dropped back, Pickett was comfortable dumping it off to his backs for chunk gains.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised Pickett’s performance, saying he “acclimated himself to it well” in his first AFC North game. Tomlin also commended the team’s ability to attack the Bengals, saying “it’s not checkers – it’s chess.” The win drops the Bengals to 4-8 and gives the Steelers a 1.5-game lead in the AFC North. If Pickett continues to play well, the Steelers could move up from the No. 3 seed in the coming weeks.
