The road to 7-7 has been anything but easy for a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is in unfamiliar territory. The Steelers organization is a long and storied franchise with a history of great talent and a winning culture. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been viewed as an elite NFL team for decades, fielding top talent with winning seasons year in and year out.
In 2023, the Steelers are at the bottom of a solid AFC North division with their playoff hopes dwindling with every passing week. At 7-7, Pittsburgh seemed firmly in control of their playoff hopes before losing three straight games versus the Cardinals, Patriots and Colts.
On Pittsburgh’s second possession against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, Steelers running back Jaylen Warren took a pitchout and swept left. Linebacker E.J. Speed tackled Warren from behind at the 1-yard line as the ball-carrier tried to get past cornerback Jaylon Jones. Pittsburgh wide receiver George Pickens stood and watched instead of blocking Jones, although Pickens did hop over Speed as he tumbled across the turf.
“I was just trying to prevent the Tank Dell situation,” Pickens said on Tuesday, “the same thing that happened to (him). I ain’t want to get an injury. When you stay on the block too long, you can get ran up on very easily.” A former Alabama A&M wide receiver, Dell had his rookie season with the Houston Texans ended when he suffered a fractured fibula in a goal-line pileup against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 3. Pittsburgh scored from the 1-yard line anyway after Waddle was tackled but lost to the Colts 30-13. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spent a large portion of his Wednesday press conference addressing the situation. Asked if Pickens would be discipline
