Getty Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett fired a message to his offensive teammates on November 29.
The Pittsburgh Steelers accumulated more than 400 yards on offense for the first time since 2020 in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. But Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett had words of caution for anyone who wanted to continue celebrating that achievement as the team prepares for Week 13.
“Points. Points, that’s what we want. We want points,” Pickett told the media on November 29. “Yards are great, but points win you games.”
Despite posting 421 offensive yards — 199 more than the Bengals did — the Steelers only scored 16 points.
Clearly, Pickett wants more points to come with the additional yards the offense is aiming to record against the Arizona Cardinals on December 3.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett Breaks Out Against Bengals
Pickett had his best game of the season in Week 12. He threw for a season-high 278 yards. Over his first 23 NFL starts, it was the most yards Pickett has thrown for in a victory.
His 72.7% completion percentage was, by far, his best of the season. Pickett’s 8.4 yards per pass attempt average was also tied for his best in a contest where he attempted more than 25 passes.
All of that is well and good. Pickett said as much when talking about his performance days later.
But he still made it clear to the media on November 29 that points is more important than individual stats.
“It felt good on Sunday. Obviously, you want more points,” Pickett told reporters. “But after watching the tape and seeing how we executed in the pass game, run game, how kinds of balanced off each other.
“Definitely liked our performance, but you want more points.”
The Steelers are averaging 16.5 points per game this season, which is 28th in the NFL. Despite 421 yards, the Steelers were under that average in the 16-10 victory.
Pickett Explains Lack of Points Despite More Yards
Pickett’s message was obvious that the Steelers need more points. But the second-year quarterback didn’t sound like he thinks the team is far from exploding on the scoreboard.
“When we got to the red zone, we just had a negative play or penalty,” Pickett said to explain why they didn’t score more points against the Bengals. “That kind of took us out of that really good rhythm that we were having.
“If we get that fixed, the points will follow.”
The Steelers scored touchdowns on just 1 of 4 trips to the red zone in Week 12. On their first red zone drive, they didn’t score at all, as Jaylen Warren fumbled.
A play prior to Warren’s fumble, the Steelers could have scored a touchdown. But the officials ruled that Diontae Johnson was unable to secure a pass all the way to the ground in the end zone.
The Steelers settled for field goal attempts on their final two red zone possessions.
Although the Bengals have given up a lot of yards this season, their defense is ranked 10th-best at preventing touchdowns on opponents red zone drives. The Cardinals enter the Week 13 matchup with the 23rd-ranked red zone defense.
Arizona also just allowed 37 points at home to the Los Angeles Rams.
The matchup sets up well for Pickett and the Steelers to deliver more than 16 points on December 3.