PITTSBURGH — There was a nice moment on the Steelers' sideline after the game Sunday at Bank of America Stadium. Once the 24-16 win against the Carolina Panthers was secured, Kenny Pickett found Mitch Trubisky, who had just played his best football of the season. He shook Trubisky's hand and pulled him close for a brief congratulatory hug. "Brotherhood," the team's Twitter called it.
It brought back memories of another wonderful moment shared by Steelers quarterbacks. Late in the 2012 season, third-stringer Charlie Batch led the team to a 23-20 upset win in Baltimore and was greeted at the end by injured Ben Roethlisberger on the sideline. Both knew it was going to be Batch's final NFL game. Batch collapsed in Roethlisberger's arms, burying his face in his shoulder for more than 30 seconds to hide his tears. Google it. It was terrific.
The embrace Sunday might not have had the same incredible emotion or drama, but it still was significant.
Sunday's start was Trubisky's first since he was benched for Pickett at halftime of the New York Jets game on Oct. 2. It probably also was his final appearance with the Steelers. He is signed through next season but is expected to be traded or released to save $8 million of his $10.65 million salary cap hit.
"I know what I can do in this league," Trubisky said Sunday.
Pickett, as he should, will return as the Steelers' starter once he clears concussion protocol, likely before the Christmas Eve home game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He needs to play. He needs to get all the game reps he can. He is the franchise's future. He became that the instant the team made him its No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft.
If the Carolina game was Trubisky's final appearance with the Steelers, he made the most of it. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 179 yards without an interception after throwing three a week earlier in relief of a concussed Pickett in a 16-14 home loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Do you think that interception stat is important? You have no idea. The Steelers are 6-1 this season when they don't have a turnover, 0-7 when they do.
Trubisky led four long scoring drives against Carolina, including a remarkable 21-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that lasted 11:43. His offense converted 12 of 16 third downs.
"It's good to be able to get this opportunity and to come through," Trubisky said.
It was enough to make you think what might have been with Trubisky, who signed as a free agent in March, about six weeks before the Steelers drafted Pickett.
— What if Trubisky hadn't played so cautiously in his first 3 1/2 games and actually had taken some shots down the field?
— What if the Steelers hadn't trailed the then-awful Jets 10-6 at halftime in a lifeless Acrisure Stadium when Mike Tomlin made the switch to Pickett for what he called "a spark?"
— What if Diontae Johnson had gotten his left foot down in the end zone on what would have been a 23-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky that would have given the Steelers the halftime lead against the Jets?
— What if a halftime incident between Trubisky and Johnson hadn't happened during that Jets game, at least according to some reporting, contributing to Trubisky's benching?
— What if Tomlin had stuck with his original plan of keeping Pickett on the bench to watch and learn?
— What if the Steelers' offensive line had been as good early in the season as it was on Sunday when Tomlin credited it — not Trubisky — for the impressive offensive performance? "I can't say enough about our big dudes up front and how they controlled it," Tomlin said.
— What if the running game had been as good early in the season as it was on Sunday when it gouged the Panthers for 156 yards, including 86 by Najee Harris?
All legitimate questions.
Here are three more:
Would Trubisky still be the starter? Would the Steelers have a better record than 6-8? Would they be a legitimate playoff contender instead of having virtually no chance of sneaking in to the postseason tournament?
Trubisky must be asking himself each and every one of those questions.
Maybe that's why Trubisky enjoyed the win Sunday so much.
"I'm just proud of all the other guys for sticking together," he said. "Believing in me. Letting me lead us and coming away with the victory. It definitely feels good. It's awesome."
