The Pittsburgh Steelers knew that they would have their hands full in their Super Wild Card Weekend matchup with the Buffalo Bills. While the Steelers are used to the elements at their home field, what they faced in Orchard Park was like nothing many of them had seen before.
Snow crushed the area and it got colder and colder as the game went on. Despite being overmatched in some areas, and being without star edge rusher T.J. Watt, the Steelers gave the Bills everything they could handle.
While Buffalo didn’t ever feel threatened to lose the game, Pittsburgh made it competitive after a slow start that was marred by turnovers. Ultimately, the Bills were the better team, defeating the Steelers 31-17.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: George Pickens, Buffalo Bills, NFL Playoffs, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
There aren’t many teams in the NFL as hot as the Bills, who have now won six games in a row. Slowing down that train was a difficult enough task for the Steelers, but in the opinion of wide receiver George Pickens, they weren’t the only opponent Pittsburgh had Monday afternoon.
Speaking at his locker after the game, Pickens ripped into the referees and the job they did. He did not mince his words, calling out specific plays that he believed went the wrong way, all to the benefit of their opponents.
“You can’t play the Bills and the refs…
“… just politically, when you guys go back and watch the game, watch the refs,” Pickens said via Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.
Pickens finished the game with five receptions for 50 yards and one rush for 15 yards. He did what he could to help keep the Steelers in the game after his turnover early in the game set the Bills up for points.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: George Pickens, Buffalo Bills, NFL Playoffs, Pittsburgh Steelers Updates
There were certainly a few calls that went against the Steelers which were questionable, at best. While they presented more challenges to overcome, the referees were not why Pittsburgh lost the game on Monday afternoon.
Fumbling twice, losing one of them, and an interception from Mason Rudolph did the Steelers no favors. In nearly every facet of the game, they were outperformed by the Bills, who earned their trip to the Divisional Round and a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
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