The run of three festive games in 11 days for the Steelers proved to be too much. With George Pickens missing the two losses against the Eagles and the Ravens, the Steelers fans were hoping for a turnaround with his return to the team. But instead of witnessing the home team save face in the AFC North race, we got Andy Reid in a Santa Claus suit handing out the present of home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs for the Chiefs.

Mike Tomlin’s side struggled to get going from the onset as the Chiefs raced to an early 13-point lead. The Steelers were at sixes and sevens and even the reliable duo of Russell Wilson and George Pickens failed to get them on the board in the first quarter. While Wilson’s fumble and interception were the headline moment, highlighting the problems for the home side, was it entirely his fault? Not really.

George Pickens stopped his route short. He was unable to adjust for his quarterback in the moment of need, leaving those watching scratching their heads. With the Steelers trailing, Chiefs safety Justin Reid appeared to be playing the deep half to Pickens’ side in Cover-2. Had Pickens’ gone vertical, his route likely would have forced Reid to stay outside, allowing him to complete the pass from Wilson. But with Pickens stopping short on a 5-yard hitch, Reid was not tethered outside and was able to jump and complete the interception.

Pickens stopping mid-route was a gut punch for the team. Down multiple scores by the first quarter, why quit on the play? A TD here would have brought the Steelers firmly back into the contest but not to be. This set the tone for the rest of the contest as they failed to come anywhere near the Chiefs for the rest of the game.

Yet Russ is not the one to throw his weapon under the bus just for the sake of it. After the game, Russ kept it simple: “Yeah, I thought he was going to go vertical. But at the end of the day, it can happen.” Sure, Russ hasn’t been lights-out lately, but he deserves a little backup, especially from his top weapon.

Miscommunications happen and perhaps Pickens was still rusty from missing the last two games. The Steelers’ recent skid against the Eagles and Ravens was rough enough, but those games at least had a Pickens-sized asterisk.

The star receiver was sidelined, and the offense sputtered without him. On Wednesday, he was back in the lineup, and expectations were sky-high. Instead? A fumble here, an interception there, and more points left on the field than anyone cares to admit. The end result is that the Steelers were unable to arrest the slide that has left them second in the AFC North table behind the Ravens, having been top not so long ago.

Wilson struggled to stamp his authority on the game, even with Pickens back. He threw for 205 yards and had no TDs, as the Chiefs’ defense got the better of him on most occasions leading to a season-high five sacks for the Pittsburgh QB. “I think that there’s highs and lows in every season. “We’ve got to make sure that we end this last game on the right footing and right belief,” he said after the loss. Before this disappointing interception, there was grief earlier for the Steelers as well.

Russell Wilson had led a marauding drive covering 69 yards in three plays and Jaylen Warren completed the move with an 8-yard touchdown run. However, it was chalked off for a holding penalty on tight end Darnell Washington. Wilson then took it upon himself to put the Steelers on the scoreboard.

The QB extended the ball over the goal line in the corner of the end zone to complete a 1-yard touchdown run with 11 minutes to go in the second quarter and reduce the deficit to 13-7.

While the Chiefs spread the festive cheer by clinching the top seed in the AFC, going three for three in 11 days, for Mike Tomlin’s side this period was a horror run. They lost each of the three contests by at least 14 points and now stare at the prospect of beginning the postseason on the road.

There were concerns other than the offense. Against the Chiefs, the Steelers defense finished the game with zero sacks and zero turnovers, a strange sight to see. The Steelers’ defense known for its staunchness has been hit with injuries to cornerbacks Donte Jackson and DeShon Elliott. Notably, since the bye week, the Steelers have allowed opposing offenses to score TDs on 19 of 28 red zone drives, that’s 68% conversion.

But even with the return of Jackson and Elliott, they were abysmal against the Chiefs, and linebacker TJ Watt had a no-nonsense stance.

Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) catches a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

When asked about how the team comes out of its slump and stoic and visibly upset TJ Watt said, “Have to go to work no other answer for it...Need to work more. We need to continue to work look ourselves in the mirror and get back to work.”

With the postseason looming, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Pittsburgh will begin the new year against the Bengals and will hope to put the dismal run at the end of the year behind them. They will need Wilson and Pickens on the same page for them to prolong their season and avoid the mishaps of Christmas Day. With playoff spots on the line, there’s no room for what-ifs. Pickens’ return to form is crucial Wilson and for their playoff hopes.

Russell Wilson’s struggles without George Pickens

Let’s break this down, shall we? Russell Wilson and George Pickens have had some serious chemistry on the field, and without Pickens, Wilson’s been like a quarterback trying to throw a Hail Mary without a target in sight. I mean, Pickens isn’t just any wide receiver—this guy’s a physical force with the speed to burn defenders. Wilson loves to launch those “moon balls,” and Pickens is the perfect guy to track them down, whether it’s out-running defenders or out-muscling them for 50/50 balls. But when Pickens went down with a hamstring injury in week 14, things took a sharp turn.

Without Pickens in the lineup, Wilson’s numbers have gone south faster than a late-season collapse. In the six games they’ve played together, Wilson’s been solid, completing nearly 66% of his passes, throwing for 1,626 yards, and putting up 10 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions. That’s the kind of QB1 production you expect. But without his go-to guy, Wilson’s dropped off. In just three games without Pickens, he’s only managed 503 yards and 5 touchdowns, with a completion rate dipping to under 63%. That’s a tough look for a guy who’s supposed to be the answer for Pittsburgh.

What’s the takeaway here? Wilson’s stats in absence of Pickens are shaky, to say the least. Even if we double his yardage from those three games, he still comes up short by about 600 yards compared to when Pickens is on the field. That’s a huge gap, and it’s clear that Wilson’s ceiling is limited without his top target. The Steelers need that chemistry back if they’re going to make any noise in the postseason.

So, how do we feel about Wilson’s future in Pittsburgh? If he’s struggling this much without Pickens, do they seriously think they can compete for a Super Bowl? It might be time to reconsider if Wilson’s really the answer, or if the Steelers need to shake things up in the offseason.