Incredible stat puts Kenny Pickett in same conversation as Josh Allen

Kenny Pickett’s rookie season was very encouraging for the Steelers, especially when one stat proves he was playing at Josh Allen’s level by the end.

The 2022 season started out rough for the Steelers and their rookie quarterback, who took over the starting job in Week 4 and threw four interceptions before he threw one touchdown pass.

Kenny Pickett needed time to settle into the pro game but once he did he showed positive signs to suggest he is Pittsburgh’s future at quarterback.

Pro Football Focus’ grades agree with that idea. In that metric, Pickett was the second-highest-rated quarterback in the NFL in the final weeks of the season, behind only Josh Allen.

Kenny Pickett’s second half of 2022 should have Steelers fans eager for 2023

PFF grades aren’t the end-all-be-all but they are a reflection of what a player is managing on a play-by-play basis. Pickett being up there with Allen at that point in the season just shows how far he came from the first half of the season.

The Steelers lost four of Pickett’s first five starts. He threw eight interceptions in those losses and went without an interception in the lone win.

In the eight games Pickett started after Pittsburgh’s Week 8 bye, he threw just one interception as the Steelers went 6-2. Both of their losses were by one score to playoff teams, Cincinnati and Baltimore. The quarterback was knocked out of that second loss early.

Pickett proved he could manage the offense while limiting mistakes and giving the Steelers the chance to win despite a scheme that no one seems to like.

Going into Year 2, hopefully with a new offensive coordinator running the show, his next step forward will be to add more touchdowns to his repertoire. He threw seven touchdowns without more than one in any game.

In the period PFF was referencing, Picket threw four touchdowns. Allen threw 12.