If "two is a pattern," as Mike Tomlin said previously regarding the deficiencies within the Steelers' offense, then that same phrase could be applicable to the opposite.
The Steelers' offense showed signs of improvement -- or, got its "mojo" back, in a way -- against the Raiders on Sunday. Kenny Pickett's 235 passing yards were a season high and the most thrown for in a single game since Week 15 last year. His 108.5 passer rating was the highest in a single game in his career to date. He showed poise both inside and outside of the pocket, and did not throw an interception while throwing the ball down the field at his highest rate since taking over as the Steelers' starter in Week 5 of last season.
There were visible signs of improvement for this struggling offense on Sunday. If they want to make two a pattern against the Texans, they will have to find way to branch off of those positive signs showed in Las Vegas and utilize them as a foundation.
"It's good to put really good tape out there and see us have success," Pickett said Wednesday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "Really good teaching moments on the good plays and some of the bad plays, so like any other week, 24-hour rule, move on. We had a good performance, want to stack another one."
The 333 yards of offense posted Sunday was the largest mark of the season for an offense that has improved steadily over three weeks. The Steelers recorded only 239 yards in Week 1 and 255 yards in Week 2. This coincides with a running game that gained a season-high 105 yards in Week 3 after rushing for just 41 and 55 yards in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively.
"Whether it's good, bad tape, you can always learn from it," Jaylen Warren said. "There's always something to critique off of tape."
Most of the criticism has been directed at Tomlin and Matt Canada for the offense's performance up through the Raiders game, and it's easy to determine why. The offense has produced four touchdown drives in three games and, had it not been for the genius of T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith against the Browns and then three interceptions from the defense in Las Vegas, the Steelers might not be sitting pretty at 2-1 and tied for first place in the AFC North.
But on Sunday, the offense displayed improvement as Pickett exhibited more confidence and comfort both inside and outside the pocket. In addition, the offense capitalized on facing an inferior defense compared to its first two opponents of the season.
"I thought we were able to get in a good rhythm and flow at times in the game," Allen Robinson said. "At times, I think for us it's certain things that we need to watch (on) the film and get corrected and things like that to be able to sustain drives. We need to stay on the field and things like that. Early in the season it's about battling. It's about battling and staying locked in each and every week, staying locked into the details, being able to correct them so you can continue to ascend."
For the Steelers to ascend, they'll need to focus on and clean up the finer details.
"The biggest thing is understanding what caused some of those things," Robinson said. "Certain plays -- a leverage thing for receivers, you might be seeing how you specifically ran a certain route or things like that. What you want to do is continue to polish some of the things that you're doing well and once you get into price settings and things like that, you'll be able to sharpen up and improve on the things that you weren't doing. You being able to have some feedback and some film to go, 'OK, this was done well, this was done well, this was done well,' now you're going to your rolodex and going, 'OK, what do I need to get better at as a player, as a group this week to continue to ascend.'"
Now, it is about doing all of that again, and perhaps more. It won't be easy again, as Texans' head coach DeMeco Ryans has improved this defense from giving up 379.5 yards per game last season to 340.7 to begin this season, his first in Houston since arriving from San Francisco.
"I think they've got great speed at all three levels," Pickett said of the Texans' defense. "They do their fundamentals really well. They don't do a ton, I'd say, schematically, but what they do, they do really well. They don't give up big plays. They keep things in front. Great defensive mind in the head coach, and a young pass rusher (Will Anderson Jr.) that's shown a lot of talent early on. He's going to be a problem. All three levels have great players. We've got to bring our best Sunday."
