The Pittsburgh Steelers needed a win against the Cincinnati Bengals to get back on track. The defense did a respectable job holding the Bengals' high-powered offense led by Joe Burrow to just 19 points, but it was the Steelers' offense that came up short. Russell Wilson couldn’t get anything going, and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith called one of his worst games yet in Pittsburgh. The Steelers fell 19-17 to the Bengals, losing their fourth straight game and limping into the playoffs.
One of the most alarming aspects of this game was the missed opportunities—or as Mike Tomlin would say, poor execution on routine plays. George Pickens was targeted six times but only managed one catch for zero yards. It was his worst performance in a Steelers uniform, compounded by visible frustration on the sideline and an argument with fans. For a player expected to step up as the Steelers' top wide receiver, this outing couldn’t have come at a worse time.
After the game, Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt didn’t hold back in his assessment of Pickens. Brooke Pryor of ESPN reported that Taylor-Britt confidently stated that they had him completely locked down and exposed weaknesses in his game.
It was a bold statement that stung even more given how pivotal Pickens was supposed to be in Pittsburgh’s offensive strategy. With the playoffs looming, the Steelers must quickly address these offensive struggles if they hope to avoid an early postseason exit.
"Everybody who guarded him ate today," Taylor-Britt said. "They didn't do s—. So that was good on our end, man. That's their momentum-grabber and we didn't let them get no momentum."
Steelers fans largely share Pickens' frustrations. He had just one target in the first half—a poorly designed screen pass that went nowhere. This highlights the importance of scheming your star wide receiver open, something nearly every other team in the NFL prioritizes. When you don’t give your top playmaker consistent opportunities to get into a rhythm, it’s no surprise when he struggles to make tough catches or loses focus in key moments.
While Pickens did have a couple of bad drops, many were also the result of outstanding defensive plays combined with moments of laziness or a lack of focus during the catch. However, the bigger issue remains his usage. The Steelers' offense continues to be painfully predictable and stagnant, showing little improvement under Smith. He was brought in to revamp this unit, yet it remains broken, uninspired, and incapable of consistently moving the ball.
The offense as a whole was a mess for most of the game. Missed opportunities, poor execution, and questionable play-calling plagued the Steelers throughout. If this team wants any chance of postseason success, fixing these glaring offensive issues must be the top priority.
Steelers' Offense And George Pickens Must Bounce Back In The Postseason
The Steelers will need Pickens and the entire offense to bounce back if they hope to have any real chance of pulling off an upset in the playoffs. Scoring just 17 points against a Bengals defense that has struggled all season underscores how much needs to be fixed—and quickly. Time is running out, as Pittsburgh closed the regular season on a disappointing four-game losing streak.
A playoff win would go a long way in easing the frustrations of a fanbase desperate for something positive to rally behind. But for that to happen, the offense must find a spark, and it starts with better execution, smarter play-calling, and getting their star playmakers like Pickens more involved from the opening snap.
