After dropping their past two games, the Steelers' once firm grip on the AFC North has loosened. They are in the playoffs no matter what, but they are now fighting for a potential home game and top-seed position. Every game is critical, but the road doesn’t get easier as the team has to take on the Chiefs on a short week.
This game is a must-win, as a loss likely means Pittsburgh will have to settle for a wild card spot. The Chiefs, despite their record, aren’t the dominant team that they have been in the past. They are also notably banged up this week. Add in the short week and this game is wide open to me. However, one player stands out as the most important for the team.
Steelers need their superstar back
George Pickens has missed the last three games with a sore hamstring, but the expectation is that he will suit up on Christmas. As of this writing, that hasn’t been confirmed yet, but no matter the case, he holds the keys to victories in his hands this week. If he plays, the Steelers have a great shot at winning. If he doesn’t, the road to a win is that much harder.
The offense hasn’t been the same since Pickens went down with an injury. The passing game was completely ineffective against the Browns and Eagles, and while we saw an improvement against the Ravens, it still wasn’t enough.
Calvin Austin has done an admirable job of stepping in as the top option, but he works best in a complementary role. The passing game needs its top dog back in the fold if they want a chance at keeping pace with the Chiefs. Pickens allows the offense to function as it should.
His dynamic ability to make plays down the field means defenses can’t stack the box to stop the run. This allows the run game to thrive, which then helps set up the passing game. For an Arthur Smith offense, this is essential. We haven’t seen that in the past three weeks though, and it has been a major issue for the offense.
Pickens playing will be make or break for this team this week. He opens up so many things for the offense, and without him, we have seen just how limited things are. It would be quite the Christmas gift to get him back and involved this week, and it could help the Steelers play spoiler on a short week.
