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USA Today via Reuters

The Pittsburgh Steelers took over the Acrisure Stadium by surprise in the last moments of the game. They won with a final score of 20-16. The Steelers relied heavily on field goals before Diontae Jackson scored the deciding 3-yard touchdown. The hustle in the fleeting moments of the game is not uncommon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are one of the few teams who push even harder when the game is in its last legs.

Kenny Pickett and the Squad have become notorious for their last-quarter shenanigans thanks to Mike Tomlin’s strategies. Or perhaps this one goes to Matt Canada, who finally showed up on the sidelines and called the plays. A tweet from Ari Meirov is a borderline warning to the Steelers’ future opponents.

The Pittsburgh Steelers stealing time

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It would seem like the Pittsburgh Steelers are the kings of the 4 quarter. Their ability to win the game in its fleeting stages is astounding. This is precisely what Meirov’s tweet points out. In the 5 games they have won, the Steelers came in a clutch in the 4 quarter as they scored 42 points in the 4 quarter in the 5 games they have won till now. Compared to the Titans’ 11 points, these are some big numbers on the Steelers’ part.

Their ability to stitch the game together in the last quarter should scare the opponent. The Steelers are very unassuming as they show a below-average performance in the first 3 quarters of the game. Pickett has been coming in a clutch in the 4 quarter in the last couple of games. According to a study, the Steelers have been one of the worst performances in the first quarter. This has been their Achilles heel for this season.

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However, Kenny Picket is notorious for squeezing out a win in the 4 quarter somehow. Of course, a lot of it depends on the play calling, but without individual efforts, the plays have little value.

Kenny Pickett, the king of clutch

The study by Clayton Eckert tracks Pickett’s performance in the 4 quarter of Steelers’ games this season. The focus of this study is the EPA (expected points before and after each play). Some fascinating facts have come to light about Pickett in this study. Pickett’s game in the 4 quarter ranks 3 in the list of top QBs. He has an EPA of 0.26 in the 4 quarter compared to his EPA (-0.21) from the first to the third quarter.

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The study points out that these inconsistencies in the 4 quarter may stem from factors like coaching and the execution of plays. There is also a debate regarding Matt Canada’s play-calling abilities, which might translate to Pickett’s performance in the first three quarters. Matt Canada’s offense ranks last in play success at the beginning of the games.

USA Today via Reuters

This cumulative performance for the first to third quarter is a telltale sign of the Steelers’ offense. However, Pickett’s maneuverability in the 4 quarter only signifies his ability to switch things up instantly when required. Maybe this is the mantra they used to win against the Tennesee Titans.

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Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson delivered the final blow to the Titans in the 4 quarter of the game. Pickett’s ability to come through in the last moments of the game might also serve as a warning to their future opponents. Maybe they will do the same thing with the Packers. Who knows?

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