Steelers 30, Bengals 37
Q. Tale of two halves. What was working in the first half and maybe what didn't in the third and fourth quarter?
KENNY PICKETT: Yeah, I mean, the penalties and not taking advantage of the shorter field, you know, the things that stick out immediately. Our defense did a great job of giving us a chance to win the game and we didn't come through in the second half. That's on us. We got to get it fixed and have two strong halves in order to beat a team like that.
Q. Kenny, are you worried at all offensively that you've been predictable in some respects?
KENNY PICKETT: It's something you need to look at the tape and see what our tendencies are. We got to go out there and execute whatever is called.
Q. In the second half did you notice adjustments that the Bengals were making, or was it more of a case you guys not executing?
KENNY PICKETT: I think it was a little bit of both. They made adjustments and I don't think we executed. Like I said before, the penalties and not taking advantage of the short fields, those are the two major things I can think of right now that needed to be done and we didn't get done.
Q. What from that first half specifically did you like?
KENNY PICKETT: I think the balance between the run and pass, right? That's what was great first against the Saints, and I think that was what was really good for us in that first half, having that balance and not relying on one. I think both really worked well together, and I don't think we had both working together well in the second half.
Our job, you know, receivers and quarterback, we have to be consistent, the run game needs to be consistent in order for our offense to work the way it needs to be and the way it should, that looked like in the first half.
So we know what it looks like and we just got to execute at a higher level in the second half.
Q. Kenny, can you ever watch the other quarterback what he's doing? Can you learn anything from a guy like Burrow?
KENNY PICKETT: In the middle of a game? No, I can't. I'm worried about my job and winning the game.
Q. Kenny, how is the confidence level?
KENNY PICKETT: Fine. Listen, I'm going to sling it until the end and my confidence level has not wavered. I'm extremely competitive and I hate to lose. Doesn't feel good sitting up they're after a loss, that's for sure.
So we got to get things cleaned up and get back on track this next week.
Q. Why do you think consistency has alluded this team?
KENNY PICKETT: I think it's just consistency throughout the game and executing at a high level. That's coming down to each guy doing their job at the highest level they can do it. Offensively if one guy has a mistake or something like that, that's what ruins a play.
So offensively we need all 11 working together, and we did a good job of that in the first half, but the second half was no where near where we needed to be.
Q. When it's like that, when you're having a missed assignment here or missed physical execution here, is that frustrating or is that maybe more heartening that it's not like big problems, it's just honing in on details?
KENNY PICKETT: Yeah, that's something you look at after the game, but in-game you're just playing the next play, right? You're going to have adversity throughout every football game and it's never going to be perfect, especially at this level.
We're all working together and picking each other up to try and get the ultimate goal, which is a victory at the end of the day.
So in-game that's not something we really focus on. Going back, turning back the film, that's where we can see where those mistakes are and try to improve upon them.
Q. How often do you and the receivers kind of work on improvisation throughout practice, like when you have to roll out and you're trying to find somebody down field?
KENNY PICKETT: Right, yeah, we have done a lot more scramble drills, and I think it showed today. I think it continued to improve and I can continue to extend plays and give those guys more time to get open down one the field and give us more opportunity to have those explosives.
Q. Kenny, there was a play late in the game, I think it was that short field drive, looked like you were faking a hand-off and there was nobody there, and ended up breaking down. Just kind of threw it. Was that a missed communication?
KENNY PICKETT: Yeah, a little miscommunication on the play.
Q. Is it concerning that some of these inconsistencies or some of the mental errors are popping up that late in the season?
KENNY PICKETT: You know, I think that happens and we just need to minimize them. Like I said, it's football at the highest level. There will be mistakes. We have to minimize them as much as possible in order for us to be successful.
That's something we have to continue to work on in practice and get ironed out in games.
Q. How is the team unity? What is the sense at 3-7 in the locker room?
KENNY PICKETT: Yeah, no one is happy, man. Obviously no one wants to be in this situation. We're going to stick together and get back on track.
Q. Diontae said he's frustrated, like everybody else, you weren't able to get him the ball very often today.
KENNY PICKETT: With the coverage they were playing, I felt like they weren't letting Diontae get singled up. That's frustrating when he's that good of a player, that talented, and they try and take him out of the game plan. There is some things, maybe move him around more and get him in different spots to try and get him the ball.
You know, but when they're playing a two-high shell and they got a safety over the top, it's tough.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports