On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by their third-string QB Mason Rudolph, went against the AFC East champions, Buffalo Bills, in their wildcard matchup. During the game, the Steelers wide receiver George Pickens was rattled by a no-call on a crucial 4th down play.
During the 4th quarter of the game, the Steelers were facing a crucial 4th down and 3 from their own 32-yard line. Quarterback Mason Rudolph, who received the snap from the shotgun position, targeted George Pickens on the slant to secure a first down and move the sticks.
However, the ball went right through the hands of Pickens, resulting in an incomplete catch. Following the incomplete catch, the Steelers wideout was looking around for a penalty flag on the Bills cornerback Dane Jackson, who tugged Pickens’ jersey during the play. But, Pickens didn’t get a flag and had to get out of the field.
Pickens was frustrated with the no-call and expressed his anger by viciously slamming his helmet on the sidelines, while the coaching staff tried to calm him. Check out the footage attached below.
The Steelers were forced to play Rudolph due to Kenny Pickett‘s injury and put up a decent fight before eventually losing to a Buffalo-based football team in a tough road game. Pickens caught 5 passes for 50 yards in the extreme cold weather, but couldn’t help his team outscore the Bills.
With that victory, the Bills advanced to the second round of the postseason and will face the AFC West champions, Kansas City Chiefs, in an exciting divisional round game this weekend. The No.2 seeded Bills will have home-field advantage over the No.3 seeded Kansas City-based football team.
George Pickens sounds off on the refs after Steelers’ loss
Following the brutal loss against the Bills on Monday, the Steelers’ second-year wide receiver George Pickens sounded off on the referees and accused them of favoring Buffalo the entire game.
You can't play the Bills and the refs at the same time. When you're out there trying to make the plays you are personally and then they just take away calls.George Pickens told the reporters
Pickens also noted several plays that he considered as poor calls. Nonetheless, the Steelers season is officially over following the loss on Monday.
Now, head coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh-based organization are headed to an early off-season, where they will have to work to strengthen their roster for the 2024 regular season.
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