There was a number of uncertainty surrounding Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers coming into their Week 7 sport. Wilson had but to play this 12 months, and Justin Fields gave the impression to be enjoying effectively. Whereas Wilson wasn’t good, he did appear to rapidly set up a reference to George Pickens, and Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich pointed to it as a motive why his workforce misplaced Sunday night time.
“The mix of [Pickens] and [Wilson], it obtained the most effective of us,” Ulbrich stated after the sport through the workforce’s YouTube channel. “We have to play it higher and in addition want to offer extra schematic solutions, and extra assist in these occasions.”
Wilson and Pickens had been completely deadly towards the Jets. Pickens recorded 5 catches for 111 yards and a landing, his first of the 12 months. He additionally drew an enormous pass-interference name that helped the Steelers rating their first landing of the sport. It appeared not possible to cowl him, even for Sauce Gardner, arguably the most effective nook within the league.
Ulrbich is speaking just like the Jets left Pickens large open all through the Steelers’ 37-15 win. In actuality, they had been enjoying good protection. The problem was that Wilson was uncorking the ball as far down area as he might, and Pickens was one way or the other all the time hauling it in. It felt like each catch he made towards the Jets was spectacular.
Credit score to Wilson for giving Pickens these alternatives. Not each deep ball was positioned on the cash, however all of them gave Pickens an opportunity. On this sport, that’s all he wanted. After his first outing on Sunday night time ended poorly, Pickens proved that the lights weren’t too vivid for him this week.
Wilson’s deep ball has usually been the most effective a part of his sport, and it was on full show towards the Jets. He was an unknown going into this sport, however now, there’s a clearer image out there. With Wilson beneath middle, it seems just like the Steelers ought to feed Pickens early and infrequently. The Jets had no solutions, and it’s in all probability one thing different groups will battle with as effectively. Pickens and Wilson’s skills complement one another properly.