Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh preview
Acrisure Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2022 ) Pittsburgh 16, Jacksonville 15
Some pundits view the Pittsburgh Steelers' 4-2 record as fraudulent, given that their offense ranks near the bottom of most major statistical categories and their point differential is minus-24.
Yet they are only a half-game out of first place in an AFC North where no one is below .500 and where they already boast home wins over the teams ahead or tied with them -- Baltimore and Cleveland.
Translation: It might not be pretty, but it is good enough.
Pittsburgh will attempt to keep its recent run of success going on Sunday at home when it takes on the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I think in 2023, when you're talking about team identity, you're talking about more intangible quality things -- a grit, a mindset," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said when asked to assess his team.
Pittsburgh rallied in the second half last week to stop the Los Angeles Rams 24-17 in Inglewood, Calif., for its second straight win. The offense rebounded from a bad first half behind second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett, who was 7-for-7 for 138 yards in the fourth quarter.
Pickett also sealed the game by converting a 4th-and-1 on a quarterback sneak. It was the fifth time in his short career that he's brought the Steelers from behind in the fourth quarter to earn a win.
"Some people relish the opportunity. Some people smile in the face of adversity," Tomlin said of Pickett. "Some people are competition junkies and I think he's all of those things. That's not something that we're just discovering. It's something we knew even prior to him being a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Still, Pittsburgh would love to up its offensive production. The Steelers are 31st in the league in total yardage and average time of possession, and 28th in rushing.
On the other hand, Jacksonville (5-2) has the kind of offense a team like the Steelers envies. The Jaguars are in the top 10 in scoring and time of possession, with their other key stats hovering around the middle of the pack. And they have won four straight, including a 31-24 triumph at New Orleans last Thursday.
With the rest of its division either sitting at .500 or looking like sellers at the trade deadline, Jacksonville seems to be in position to take its present 1 1/2-game lead Houston to another level. But coach Doug Pederson isn't interested in projecting the distant future, only what might happen this week against a tough defense on the road.
"Just understanding the type of team we're playing this week, they've beaten some really good football teams this year," he said. "They play hard, they play physical. If you're not ready for this one, it's gonna be a long day up in Pittsburgh."
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence (knee) is officially listed as questionable after practicing in limited fashion all week. He is coming off a good game in New Orleans, throwing for 204 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a team-high 59 yards. One area of concern, though, is that he's fumbled six times, losing three.
The Jaguars ruled out receiver Zay Jones (knee) and cornerback Gregory Junior (hamstring). Offensive linemen Brandon Scherff (ankle) and Walker Little (knee), cornerback Tyson Campbell (hamstring) and safety Andre Cisco (hamstring) are questionable.
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (hamstring) missed Thursday's practice but returned Friday and said he will play Sunday. T.J. Watt (heel) was limited Friday but also has no game designation. Cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. (calf), Levi Wallace (foot) and James Pierre (ankle) are questionable.
The Jaguars own a 14-13 edge in the all-time series (including 2-0 in the playoffs), though Pittsburgh won the teams' last meeting three years ago, 27-3.
--Field Level Media