George Pickens offers lame excuse for Steelers’ loss to Browns

Sep 18, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) smiles on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns played a hard-fought game in inclement weather on Thursday night, and George Pickens felt the conditions impacted one team more than the other.

Snow fell throughout the evening as the Browns beat the Steelers 24-19 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The snow intensified in the second half, but it did not stop Jameis Winston from orchestrating a 45-yard touchdown drive to win the game.

While speaking with reporters in the locker room after the game, Pickens used the weather as an excuse for why Pittsburgh lost. The star wide receiver bluntly stated that he does not “think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all.”

“Conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game. I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all,” Pickens said. “I think the conditions kind of saved them today.”

#Steelers WR George Pickens on the loss to the #Browns:

“The conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game. I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all.”https://t.co/8kT1wuS8cQ pic.twitter.com/Pvwn5ttflJ

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) November 22, 2024

Pickens might be right that the weather helped level the playing field a bit, but good teams should be able to win in all conditions. The Steelers in particular pride themselves on playing a hard-nosed brand of football, which we saw with the way they won last week.

Pickens had 4 catches for 48 yards in the game. He then appeared to express some of his frustrations by getting into a fight on the final play of the game. He will have to change his mindset if the Steelers deal with inclement weather during the playoffs.