Why Brock Purdy is performing better than Steelers Kenny Pickett

San Francisco’s weapons make consistent plays to give their QB confidence

All-stars are all over this 49ers team when you look at the big names that litter their call sheet. Getting these playmakers, the ball in their hands is something that makes a rookie quarterback’s job much easier. Deebo Samuel is a hybrid type of player that can take over games, while Christian McCaffrey remains one of the best running backs in the NFL.

You top that with a top-three tight end in the league with George Kittle on offense, and it almost seems unfair. There are tons of options for Purdy to go with on any given snap. Giving these players a chance down the field is something that causes a rookie to make plays when it matters most.

The Steelers offense was the exact opposite of risk-takers, especially in the first half of the season. Pickett started to push the ball down the field more as he got more comfortable. Other than Pat Freiermuth being a constant contributor, there were no all-stars to throw to. Najee Harris was running poorly, and the receiving group did not show much to the point of Pickett becoming the starter.

Harris started to get healthy and run the ball better, which allowed for the passing game to get more aggressive. Diontae Johnson continued to drop the ball, both figuratively and literally. George Pickens was just trying to find opportunities, and all of these things made it more difficult for Pickett to trust his weapons on the offensive front.