Steelers Dangerous Duo Feed Off Each Other

The Pittsburgh Steelers can feel a difference with Diontae Johnson back.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers finally got a full game with their top two wide receivers active and the results spoke for themselves - George Pickens and Diontae Johnson are better together than they are apart. 

Johnson, playing for the first time since a Week 1 hamstring injury kept him sidelined through the bye week, and George Pickens each hauled in five receptions and combined for 186 yards as the Steelers got their offense kickstarted late and beat the Los Angeles Rams. 

“I haven’t run like that in a while," Johnson said. "But it felt good to get back out on the field and show Steeler Nation what they were missing.”

What exactly they were missing was some explosive playmaking in the passing game. Quarterback Kenny Pickett hit Johnson for a 39-yard gain on third and eight late in the fourth quarter to set up Jaylen Warren's game-tying touchdown. He had three other receptions of 10 or more yards (although one was called back because of a Pickens block in the back). Pickens, meanwhile, caught four passes that gained 20 yards or more. 

There's a friendly competition ongoing between the two that feeds them and the rest of the offense. 

“We play off one another. He makes a play, I make a play, so it’s like our little thing," Johnson said. "That kind of gets us turned up. And once we start making plays, everyone else starts making plays. You see our offense, we got that spark that we need and it shows. We feel like we did a great job of that. George and I had a great game. The team had a great game.”

The way that tandem lifts the entire offense is visible on film and tangible as the offense practices and plays together. They stress defenses and capitalize on their ability to keep opponents on their toes. 

"Diontae coming back certainly enhanced a lot of things. You have to respect where he is, respect where George is," Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. "I think they feed off each other but more importantly, as an offense, it just helps having all your weapons out there when you can.”

Johnson and Pickens are both stars - "A Players" in head coach Mike Tomlin's parlance, and they played like that in Los Angeles. It's no coincidence that Johnson's return came in the same game that Kenny Pickett was sharp and the offense scored the second-most points than it had in any single game this year. 

"Coach T is always talking about being an A player so we need those A players to step up and that’s what those A players did on Sunday," Johnson said. "You’re seeing those big plays that we need to turn the game around.”

Make sure you bookmark All Steelers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Steelers Favorites to Land DeAndre Hopkins

Steelers Named Landing Spot for Broncos Star DB

Browns' Deshaun Watson Caught in Drama With Former Player

Eagles Trade Former Steelers DB

Rams Messed With George Pickens

• Subscribe to the All Steelers YouTube Channel