The Pittsburgh Steelers are 7-1 when wide receiver George Pickens leads the team in receiving this season. Associated Press

PITTSBURGH — George Pickens was called out by Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens for being lazy and not running his route when Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception in the end zone Wednesday afternoon against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Pickens was supposed to run a vertical route and occupy Chiefs safety Justin Reid, who easily drifted toward tight end Pat Freiermuth and made the pick when he had no responsibilities on his side of the field.

It wasn't the only time in the game Pickens didn't run his route.

On the opening series of the game, on third-and-2, Pickens jogged a few steps off the line of scrimmage and turned around, never expecting to get the ball thrown his way. Wilson took a sack, and the Steelers were forced to punt.

The Steelers were expecting to get a big lift with the return of Pickens, who had missed the three previous games with a hamstring injury. He had a 41-yard catch early in the game but only had two more for 9 yards after that. He was visibly frustrated in the second half when Wilson threw a deep ball to Mike Williams on the other side of the field when Pickens also had one-on-one coverage on his side.

"There is going to be adversity in every season," Wilson said. "It comes at different times. I'm betting on our guys, on who we are and how we're going to respond. I really believe in who we are. It's been a tough road the past three weeks. We haven't been able to overcome some of the challenges along the way. We have to make that a good thing for us.

"In the playoffs, it becomes 0-0. That's the truth of the playoffs and the opportunity we have."

Those are some wise and timely words from Wilson as the Steelers completed their toughest stretch of the season. They scored a season-low 10 points against the Chiefs and averaged 13 points per game during a three-game losing streak that also included losses to the Eagles and Ravens.

The best way for the Steelers offense to get back on track, as strange as it might sound given his lapses in the blowout loss to the Chiefs, is to try to fix Pickens and get him in the right frame of mind for the playoffs.

That might be easier said than done, but it's by far their best chance of winning.

The Steelers are 7-1 when Pickens is their leading receiver. They're 3-0 when Pickens scores a touchdown.

Receivers coach Zach Azzanni might be the most important person at 34 South Water St. over the next week. Remember what he said back in October about his job?

“I'm part receivers coach and part psychologist,” he said. “Every week, I learn what buttons to push.”

The Steelers will be counting on Azzanni to push the right buttons this week. There might be a time when the Steelers are a physically dominant team in the trenches and can beat teams up with their running game, but they're not that type of a team now.

The reason the Steelers signed Wilson was his veteran leadership and ability to push the ball down the field. Coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith should put the ball in Wilson's hands and let him distribute it to Pickens and his other playmakers.

Freiermuth leads the team with six touchdown receptions. Feed him the ball more — and not just in the red zone.

Calvin Austin III has taken some big steps in his development this season. Give him a bigger role.

And feed running back Jaylen Warren the bulk of the carries in the running game and targets in the passing game. After Pickens, he might be the offense's best playmaker. He's averaging 8.2 yards per catch out of the backfield.

"It's frustrating, but there are solutions to it," Austin said.

The Steelers scored a season-high 44 points one month ago in Cincinnati when they had Wilson attempt a season-high 38 passes. Smith had him come out throwing on first down. He threw to his running backs early and often and sprinkled in some big plays to Pickens and others in a dominating performance.

It might be a risky approach in the playoffs, but what do the Steelers have to lose at this point? They are going to have to score in bunches if the defense can't fix its problems, and the best way to do that is by trusting Wilson and his young weapons on offense.