Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett. Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett gives fans reasons to believe

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't contenders, but they might have a franchise quarterback.

Kenny Pickett had his best game as a pro yet during the Steelers' 24-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. 

Pickett threw for 20/28 and 147 yards during the victory and helped set up the Steelers' rushing attack in the red zone for two touchdowns. 

While Pickett might not be lighting up the scoreboard, he is playing efficient, clean football. 

The Steelers might not be contending this year, but the real battle was making sure Pickett, the team's first-round pick last spring, was ready for primetime. 

He impressed ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick with his poise and ability on a scoring drive during the Colts win. 

Most importantly, Pickett seems to be winning over his teammates.

The Steelers have a lot of work to do to shore up the roster and get back to the franchise's typical winning ways. Having Pickett playing at a confident level in his first season is a huge piece of the puzzle. 

If Pickett really can be Pittsburgh's future, it's going to help give Steelers fans a lot more to look forward to in the years to come.  

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