Steelers Week 17 MV3's

"Steelers are like a 17 in blackjack. Deep down, we know it's not good enough, but you can't do anything to change it either." -Jason Elliot (@AceDeck318 on Twitter/X)

Pittsburgh, you're making this series very difficult to follow. I do this to put a more positive spin on every game, win or lose. At what point were there no good players or performances I was personally impressed with? Now, Pittsburgh fans, I only ask that you don't embarrass yourselves. The referees didn't beat Pittsburgh; the Chiefs AND Steelers did. The Chiefs got nine penalties compared to Pittsburgh's four.

There were questionable calls, like that George Pickens play where the play was blown dead early before Pickens could break away, but it's not like that play would've changed the result as the score was 10-29. The Steelers could very well be frauds. The players look mentally defeated, the play calls are getting worse, and this could be another year of being one-and-done in the playoffs. I hope I am wrong, but that's the all-too-familiar route the Steelers are running. Three losses in ten days can put a number on you, but now they have over a week to recover. But let's see who is getting yelled at less on social media regarding players!

Honorable Mentions:

Cam Heyward - 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QB Hit

TJ Watt - 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 pass defense

Pat Freiermuth - 7 rec, 60 receiving yards, 1 fumble

#3: Najee Harris - 13 carries, 74 rushing yards, 2 rec, 7 receiving yards

Yes, I know. Najee Harris got 53 of his rushing yards in garbage time and didn't contribute much whenever the game was still close. But this is also a little congratulations to the former Alabama Crimson Tide. For the first time in 15 years, a running back has rushed 1000+ yards in his first four seasons. The last time this happened was with Chris Johnson from 2008 to 2011 during his time in Tennessee. Other names to achieve this feat include Adrian Peterson, LaDanian Tomlinson, Barry Sanders, and Tony Dorsett, all legends. However, could this also be Najee Harris's last season? A rising star in Jaylen Warren is on the rise.

#2: George Pickens - 3 rec, 50 receiving yards

It's an average performance from someone who has the potential to be one of the best in the league. The Steelers did significantly better on the ground through the air, with over 200 total rushing yards versus under 170 passing yards. And Freiermuth was the more targeted guy compared to the former Georgia Bulldog. Pickens was targeted six times but only caught half of his passes. It wasn't like Wilson had his best game; he probably had his worst as a Steeler. The offensive line wasn't helping, but the lack of receiving depth isn't either. WR2 is always a question every week, but WR1 runs through GP.



#1: Jaylen Warren - 11 carries, 71 rushing yards, 5 rec, 41 receiving yards

Warren had a solid day on the ground. An 11-yard run to the Chiefs 22 in the 2nd QTR helped the Steelers get their first TD. An average of 6.5 yards in this game. But now comes a question? Will Jaylen Warren likely be RB1 by the start of the 2025 season? Possibly. Harris was declined his fifth-year option before the season's beginning, so the front office and coaches want to see more from him. His stats from his rookie year to 2024 are very similar. This year, Harris, compared to other RBs on a minimum of 114 runs (37 running backs), has 4.0 average yards per carry (30th OVR). Warren has a 4.3 average (19th OVR). Both guys have good cases to be RB1, and their contracts are up by the end of the year. Jaylen is better speed-wise and matches up better as a receiving back; Najee brings power and solid ball protection with only six fumbles in four years. And compared to Warren, his ball security is more shaky, with seven fumbles in three years—an interesting but uncomfortable question with an interesting and uncomfortable answer.

A season finale in Pittsburgh that now has significant repercussions due to the Bengals needing a win and losses to Denver and Miami to make the playoffs. Can Pittsburgh end the season finale on a high note? What seed will the Steelers possess after this? Can we never play three games in ten days again? I beg.