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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ best wide receiver was distracted by an altercation with Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during the final play of Thursday’s game between the AFC North rivals.
As Russell Wilson’s Hail Mary attempt was in the air, George Pickens was locked up with Newsome with both players running out of the back of the end zone to go at each other.
The situation got to the point that stadium security got involved to hold back Pickens. Newsome continued to poke the bear after the game with a post on X.
Newsome expanded on that thought while speaking to reporters in the locker room following the Browns’ 24-19 win.
“Yeah, he’s a fake tough guy,” Newsome said. “He does a lot of that. The antics and stuff. Yeah, he didn’t even go up for the ball.”
Pickens didn’t specifically address Newsome after the game, but he made it clear he believes the Browns only won the game because of the snowy weather in Cleveland.
“Conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game,” Pickens told reporters. “I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today.”
Even though the odds of the Steelers completing that final Hail Mary pass were low, not having Pickens involved in the play because he was in a pro wrestling-style lockup with Newsome didn’t help matters.
After a quiet three quarters in which the Browns held a 10-6 lead, the two teams combined for 27 points in the fourth quarter. The Steelers went ahead 19-18 on Calvin Austin’s 23-yard touchdown catch with 6:20 remaining.
The Steelers had a chance to ice the game after a Jameis Winston interception on Cleveland’s ensuing drive, but they went three-and-out. Corliss Waitman’s punt only went 15 yards to give the Browns the ball at Pittsburgh’s 45-yard line.
Nick Chubb scored the go-ahead touchdown with one minute left to play. The Steelers got to Cleveland’s 35-yard line for the final Hail Mary that was batted down to end the game.
The loss snapped Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak and dropped the club two games behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff race.