What pressure? Pat Narduzzi laughs off question about stress while Pitt protects 1-game lead in ACC Coastal

Pat Narduzzi thought the question was funny — truly knee-slapping, are-you-kidding-me? hilarious.

So he allowed himself a chuckle and a sarcastic remark when asked about the stress that grows from trying to protect a one-game lead atop the ACC Coastal, especially when a loss Saturday against Virginia could all but blow up what has been the most successful Pitt season in more than a decade.

No. 20 Pitt (8-2, 5-1) can nail down the division for the second time in four years by beating the Cavaliers (6-4, 4-2) at Heinz Field. A loss, however, launches Virginia into first place (thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker), leaving Pitt to hope the Cavaliers lose their final game against Virginia Tech on Nov. 27 while the Panthers are winning in Syracuse’s Carrier Dome.

Since losing to Miami on Oct. 30, Pitt has survived that fragile scenario by beating Duke and North Carolina.

But Narduzzi doesn’t believe this is the third consecutive week with everything on the line.

“I thought it was the 10th straight one,” he said, suggesting every game matters.

“How are we holding up? I’m doing terrible. I’m struggling,” he said, enjoying a laugh.

Message received.

“We’re OK. It’s a Monday. We’re gameplanning,” he said. “We’re preparing just like any other week. There’s no pressure. Stress comes when you’re unprepared.”

He was paraphrasing Chuck Noll, who once famously said, “Pressure is something you feel only when you don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Our kids will be prepared,” Narduzzi said. “I think they’re excited. It’s another football game. That’s the only way I know how to look at it. I don’t think they’re stressed out at all. They get to go play football. I think (reporters) get stressed out, sitting with those computers and phones. I think you guys are a little tight right now.

“This is a football game. That’s all it is. We get to go out and have fun, get to coach and play the game you love.”

Narduzzi appeared so calm at his regular Monday chat with reporters that he spoke matter-of-factly of what Pitt needs to fix after several problems emerged last week in the overtime victory against North Carolina.

“I think we played really, really good for a half,” he said. “Disappointed when you watch the second half, some of the missed opportunities. We had our chances offensively.”

But four sacks, six penalties, four dropped passes (according to Pro Football Focus) and two missed field goals (including one that was blocked) allowed the Tar Heels to recover from a 23-7 deficit midway through the third quarter to force overtime after almost winning it in regulation.

“Just didn’t execute like we need to in the second half,” Narduzzi said. “I told them such (Sunday) night. You can’t play like that. You can’t go out and do what you did in the first half and then do what you did in the second half.”

Pitt survived several injuries to starters, losing guard Jake Kradel after starting the game without offensive tackle Gabe Houy (although Narduzzi said Houy will return Saturday). But wide receivers Taysir Mack and Jaylon Barden have missed two games in a row, and Melquise Stovall was injured during the game. Defensive tackle Keyshon Camp and cornerback A.J. Woods also didn’t play against the Tar Heels.

“We’re banged up like a lot of people are in November,” he said. “We found a different way to win.”

The injuries to the three wide receivers didn’t impact the passing game. Quarterback Kenny Pickett still completed 25 of 43 passes for 346 yards, including two catches each by Tre Tipton, a seventh-year senior, and Jaden Bradley, a freshman.

“You have to pick the pieces up and move (on),” Narduzzi said.

Notes: Jordan Addison was named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award that is presented annually to the nation’s best pass catcher. Addison, a sophomore, leads the nation with 11 touchdown catches. … SirVocea Dennis, who had three tackles for a loss among his total of 10, was named ACC Linebacker of the Week.