The Pittsburgh Steelers were a popular pick by many coming into the 2023 season to be one of the best teams in the AFC.
It didn’t take long, however, for those expectations to take a huge hit, as the Steelers dropped their season-opener at home to the 49ers, 30-7, on Sunday.
Second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett was awful throughout the game, throwing two interceptions, and averaging just five yards per reception.
The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league, which made things harder for Pickett and the Steelers’ offense, but this bad decision/awful throw is something you can’t do against any defense in the NFL:
Kenny Pickett throws another INT, and a fun lateral on the return by the #49ers 😄pic.twitter.com/qbarlGHG5ahttps://t.co/kj8WFLUnXR
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 10, 2023
The Steelers didn’t get their first first down of the game until their final drive of the opening half. This graphic shows how ugly things got:
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 10, 2023
NFL fans roasted Pickett and the Steelers:
I guess balling in the preseason ain't what it used to be... https://t.co/tmMrZ6BNYU
— King's Landing (@___theKing___) September 10, 2023
do not let people fool you into thinking he’s good https://t.co/yAg4sTHKGh
— 𝙅𝙖𝙘𝙤𝙗 🐶 (@MitchellBuckets) September 10, 2023
But Steelers fans told me he was poised to be an elite QB this SZN https://t.co/OaRZ7QBrd0
— Big Mike (@big_mike9169) September 10, 2023
If you walk away from that game thinking Kenny Pickett is better than Brock Purdy today, you are delusional. Nothing to do with coaching. Accuracy, pocket presence. Wasn’t close. #Steelers
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) September 10, 2023
There was a lot of hype surrounding Kenny Pickett entering year two.
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) September 10, 2023
But this was his worst performance since the Eagles game last season.
As bad as the box score looks, he was even worse. This was a humbling afternoon in Pittsburgh.
"damn, 24?!" - kenny pickett https://t.co/fyLuVrwIVt
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) September 10, 2023
“Kenny Pickett drops back to pass” pic.twitter.com/ONWb3XFujq
— Chef K American Fabrizio (The Real Deal) (@SDNiner49) September 10, 2023
The play calls, Kenny Pickett, the offensive line, the secondary, the defensive line.. is there anything that doesn't suck today?
— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) September 10, 2023
32 yards rushing on an offense that was supposed to be ground and pound
