Kenny Pickett, Steelers get harsh reality check about preseason results

Expectations skyrocketed for the Pittsburgh Steelers after a promising preseason that saw second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett and their first-team offense score five touchdowns on five possessions. 

They looked fast, precise and loaded with potential playmakers.

Their 30-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers was a harsh reality check that the preseason really doesn't mean much and that they still have a long way to go before they are considered one of the top teams in the NFL. 

The 49ers systematically demolished the Steelers in all three phases of the game, with Pickett and the Steelers' offense getting the rudest awakening. 

It took Pittsburgh until there was less than two minutes to play in the first half to record a first down, at which point they had managed just a single yard of offense.

The offensive line, which was supposed to be improved with the free agent signing of Isaac Seumalo, was bullied and pushed around by a San Francisco front that is as good as any team in the NFL. 

The wide receivers struggled to get open. And worst of all, Pickett looked completely overmatched, throwing two interceptions and averaging just 5.0 yards per pass attempt while missing pretty much every down field throw he attempted. He also had another potential pick-six dropped by linebacker Fred Warner,

It was a complete 180 from what the Steelers saw from Pickett in the preseason where he finished with a perfect passer rating and was on target with everything. 

It is worth noting, however, that almost all of those preseason series came against primarily backup defenses in Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The level of competition was increased significantly so on Sunday against one of the NFL's best rosters. 

Pickett and the Steelers were not ready for it. And that is to say nothing of a defense that had no answer for Brock Purdy or the 49ers passing game. 

Pickett and the Steelers did show signs of improvement in the second half of his rookie season, and they are unlikely to play a defense as good as the one they played on Sunday again this season. 

It is also hard to imagine they could play this bad across the board again. But it is still not the start anybody in Pittsburgh expected or wanted. 

Until they do something to make people forget about what happened on Sunday there is going to be reason to doubt how good they actually are.