George Pickens put the Steelers in the red zone on Sunday on a pass from Russell Wilson.
He promptly shut them down with a celebration penalty on a drive that stalled and went scoreless after a blocked field goal against the Bengals.
The penalty was Pickens’ second of the day for unsportsmanlike conduct. Both penalties led to an in-game admonition from Steelers right tackle Broderick Jones. Head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Pickens needs to “grow up.”
Tomlin calls Pickens out
“He’s gotta grow up, man,” Tomlin said. “It’s an emotional game, man. These divisional games are big. He has a target on his back because he is George. He understands that.
“But he has to grow up and he has to hurry.”
#Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on WR George Pickens’ unsportsmanlike penalties.
“He just needs to grow up, man. It’s an emotional game. These divisional games are big. He has a target on his back because he is George. He understands that, but he has to grow up.” pic.twitter.com/WdfdkDX9Qw
— Aaron Becker (@Aaron_M_Becker) December 1, 2024
Pickens’ finger gun proves valuable
Pickens’ second penalty came on Pittsburgh’s first possession of the second half. With the Steelers leading, 27-21, Pickens caught a deep ball from Wilson down the right sideline on second-and-7. The 36-yard gain put Pittsburgh at the Cincinnati 13-yard line.
But his post-match celebration earned an easy penalty from the officials. Pickens raised his right hand with two fingers extended in a finger gun aimed at the end zone stands in Cincinnati. Pickens was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15-yard penalty that backed the Steelers up to the 28-yard line.
After the penalty, Jones pulled Pickens to the side to talk to him.
The Steelers didn’t get a first from there. They gained five yards instead and settled for a Chris Boswell field goal attempt. Cincinnati blocked the kick and the Steelers pulled ahead scoreless after initially advancing to the Bengals’ 13-yard line following Pickens’ big gain.
Pickens can consider himself fortunate that the punishment did not lead to exclusion. He was ticketed for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the first quarter and received a warning.
The Steelers ultimately won this shootout against AFC North 44-38. Pickens finished with three catches on six targets for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Pickens was previously warned of a possible deportation
That penalty also came after a big gain that resulted in a Steelers first down. Pickens caught a pass on a crossing route on third-and-8 for a 21-yard gain at the Cincinnati 47-yard line. After the game, Pickens dropped the ball directly into the face of Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt, who beat Pickens on the play and lay face up on the turf.
The ball falling resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for what the officials deemed taunting.
The taunting indication was accompanied by a warning that Pickens would be ejected for another violation. Fortunately for Pickens, the officials did not view his second unsportsmanlike penalty as taunting, and he remained in the game.
As with his second penalty, Pickens first asked Jones to pull him aside to share some words. On this drive, the Steelers eventually scored a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
Officials previously declined to flag Pickens for a celebration of Pittsburgh’s first score of the day. At that point, Pickens took a screen pass from Wilson from 17 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 7–7 in the first quarter. After the score, Pickens kicked the ball into the stands.
It all added up to the full Pickens experience, complete with big, game-changing plays and avoidable post-play mistakes that cost his team.
