PITTSBURGH — There was no vulgar eye black on national television this time. No frustrations aired on the sideline or storylines created over silly, preventable stuff that would consume our attention for the next week.

Instead, the performance we saw from George Pickens during Sunday's 37-15 beatdown of the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium was the inverse, a masterful and dominant demonstration of why the Steelers have tolerated what can generously be described as growth moments.

This also feels different.

Sustainable, even.

For while Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had several reasons to turn to Russell Wilson after Justin Fields led the team to a 4-2 start, this felt like an important byproduct, a whole new world for the team's No. 1 wide receiver and a chance to function more how Pickens did with Mason Rudolph at the end of last season.

"It felt great to make plays like that, which I know I'm capable of doing," Pickens said early Monday morning after catching five passes for 111 yards on nine targets, including his first touchdown of the season.

Pickens most certainly made great plays, none better than a third-and-7 play from the Steelers' 24-yard line with 12:02 to go in the third quarter.

Wilson's pass clanked off Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver's head. Pickens somehow still found the ball in mid-air and wrestled it away for a 37-yard reception.

"Just concentration," Pickens said, two words that might award him the understatement of the week or month. "He had it for a minute. I had it. Bounced up in the air. Got my eyes back on there and made the catch."

Yeah, that.

Few other receivers throughout the NFL are capable of that, and it's why I can at least sort of sympathize with what Pickens has gone through to this point.

He's talented. He wants opportunities. He wants the chance to help his team. And too often, because of a downfield passing game that has lacked, Pickens has been unable to do those things.

I'd get upset, too, if every time went I went to type something, my computer shut down or froze. The difference is that I don't have a massive audience watching.

Now, does Pickens need to handle himself better when things don't go his way? That's fair. Especially when it comes to being a good teammate and blocking. But if you claim to have had it figured out at 23 — I know I sure didn't — you're lying.

What we should want to see from Pickens is growth, maturity and — gasp — the effort we saw in the fourth quarter on Sunday, as the Steelers wore down the Jets and rattled off 31 unanswered points: downfield blocking.

Yes, there was Pickens, trying to help Harris pick up a few more yards.

"We know he's gonna break a few tackles," Pickens said. "You kinda want to keep your head on a swivel for guys downfield."

Great. More of that.

Plus the other circus catch Pickens made in the second quarter, this time on second-and-17 from the same spot on the field.

Flipped to Wilson's left and with Jets cornerback Brandin Echols applying coverage, Pickens streaked downfield and looked back for a slightly underthrown ball, hauling it in with his right hand.

We trip on furniture or shoes. Pickens does this. And it's actually fairly routine, hence the eye black that caused such a stir.

But it was also a reminder that Wilson really seems to love the type of weapon Pickens can be, someone who is pretty much always open and can outwork opposing defensive backs to come down with the ball.

"George is so talented," Wilson said. "He makes it easy on the quarterback. He knows how to get open. He knows how to make plays. His ability to make contested catches is remarkable."

Nobody who has watched the Steelers over the past handful of years would dispute that. It's the attitude, effort or inability to channel frustration the proper way that has rubbed some people the wrong way when it comes to Pickens.

It's also why I found this particular nugget from Wilson fascinating. It seems he and Pickens had a talk after the Dallas game, when things bottomed out for the wide receiver.

Wilson, unfailingly positive, told Pickens to not give up, to believe in the process and embrace the journey.

Critics have accused Wilson of being fake positive or phony, but it seems like he has his young receiver's ear. In addition to listening, Pickens also seems to appreciate Wilson's willingness to find him deep and how differently the offense functioned with the nine-time Pro Bowler under center.

There's a fascinating code the Steelers might've cracked when it comes to getting the best version of Pickens, not only with his incredible catches but his all-around fit and influence on the offense.

"George and I had a cool conversation a couple weeks ago on not giving up on stuff and believing in himself, believing in us, believing in the journey and continuing to do what he does best," Wilson said.

"God gave him a tremendous gift. One of the things about George, when he catches that ball, he's got a light to him. The whole stadium feels it. There's an energy to him. That's what makes him the superstar that he is," he said.

It's also what could cement the Steelers' offensive status.

Not trying to get too crazy here, but they've scored 69 points the past two weeks. Overall, they're 16th in the NFL at 23 points per game — and I'd argue this version of the passing game should nudge them closer to 30.

Pickens is a big part, the same for spreading the ball around as Wilson did and the offensive line continuing to produce despite injuries.

Harris has enjoyed back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time in his career and looks motivated, rejuvenated or both, while Jaylen Warren (12 carries, 44 yards) was the most involved he's been all season.

"The past couple of years, maybe we'd be good at [running or passing]," Harris said. "But now that we're multi-dimensional, it's hard for teams to figure out what to focus on.

"That's how you win games. To have a balanced run and a balanced pass, that's how you go far in the playoffs and how good things happen."

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