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Kenny Pickett Michael Longo/For USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kenny Pickett's fourth-quarter heroics make him a frustrating player

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/3/23

There's a lot to be said for making plays in crunch time, and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has shown quite a knack for doing exactly that.

He did it again on Thursday night in the Steelers' 20-16 win over the Tennessee Titans, leading yet another game-winning fourth-quarter drive. Since taking over as the Steelers' starting quarterback last season he has now engineered five fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives.

There is something that clicks for him when the game rolls over to the second half, especially the fourth quarter. He suddenly looks poised and in control. He suddenly makes all of the throws downfield that he missed earlier in the game. He suddenly looks like the first-round pick that he is.

If you break his overall performance down by quarter, there is a consistent upward trend in his performance within games.

In the first quarter, his passer rating is a horrendous 49.7.

In the second quarter, it goes up to a slightly less horrendous 77.7.

In the third quarter, it becomes a very respectable 91.6.

Then in the fourth quarter, it goes to an All-Pro level of 108.2.

There is also this wild stat from Pro Football Focus about close games in the fourth quarter.

Highest @PFF grade in the fourth quarter/OT with the score within 7 since 2022

Tom Brady 85.4
Kenny Pickett 85.2
Patrick Mahomes 84.9
— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) November 3, 2023

If you break it down by half, he has a 67.4 passer rating with a 54 percent completion percentage in the first half, and a 98.6 passer rating with a 69.5 percent completion percentage in the second half. He also averages nearly three more yards per completion in the second half.

On Thursday his first-half performance looked horrific, even with an opening drive touchdown mixed in.

Much maligned offensive coordinator Matt Canada actually called a great game on Thursday. The offensive line, with the addition of rookie Broderick Jones at right tackle, played its best game of the season and generated one of the Steelers' best rushing performances thus far. Everything was there for Pickett to shine. But he still missed some easy lay-up throws that at an NFL quarterback has to make, and his errors left points on the field for the Steelers.

But in the second half, Pickett once again found another gear.

It has to be maddening for Steelers players to see their offense struggle for the entire first half of a game. It has to be maddening for opponents to think they are in complete control of a game only to watch him suddenly put it all together with the game on the line and deliver a knockout punch.

The problem for the Steelers (and for Pickett) is whether this is sustainable long-term. It's great that Pickett can make plays in crunch time, but if the Steelers end up needing fourth-quarter heroics every game, they're bound to be disappointed. At some point, Pickett is going to have to put together a complete game for the Steelers to keep winning. He has yet to show he can do that.

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