5 Things We Learned From the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13

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The Ups and Downs of George Pickens

The theme for George Pickens has been the same since his days at the University of Georgia. He will make multiple big plays but also show some major immaturity issues. That was the case again on Sunday, where Pickens hauled in three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown. If you just looked at that, you'd probably be impressed, but Pickens also had two penalties that could have easily changed the game's outcome. As Mike Tomlin said post-game, Pickens has to grow up and fast.

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Run Game Thrives

Najee Harris has continued to look like he has something to prove this year after the Steelers declined his fifth-year option before the year. The former first-round pick has been a focal point of the offense, which remained the case on Sunday in Cincinnati. Harris finished the afternoon with 16 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown, paired with six catches for 54 yards. If Harris continues to hum like this, he will have plenty of suitors this offseason, even in a fragile running back market. 

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T.J. Watt Breaks Through

We've been waiting for T.J. Watt to have a breakout performance on defense, and he did that in Week 13 against the Bengals. Even though the Bengals tallied their fair share of points, Watt was a significant factor against one of the NFL's top offenses. Watt finished Sunday afternoon with a pair of sacks, which included a critical strip-sack for the Steelers to help halt any momentum. We've grown to expect this from one of the league's top defenders. 

Have a Day Arthur Smith

It hasn't entirely been sunshine and rainbows for the Steelers offense in 2024, but it's night and day from last year. The hiring of Arthur Smith gave the Steelers a legitimate coordinator, and he's continued to be up to the task. I was most impressed with how Smith game planned for this divisional matchup against Cincinnati. Even though the Bengals have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, Smith had a pristine game plan, and the Steelers' offense operated at a high clip because of it. 

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