George Pickens kept the Steelers in the red zone on a Russell Wilson pass on Sunday.
He immediately shut them out with a celebration penalty on a drive that stalled and came up scoreless on a blocked field goal against the Bengals.
Pickens had his second penalty of the day for unsportsmanlike conduct. Both penalties prompted in-play admonitions from Steelers right tackle Broderick Jones. Head coach Mike Tomlin said postgame that Pickens needs to “grow up.”
Tomlin called Pickens
‘He needs to grow up,’ Tomlin said. 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 grow up in a hurry.”
#Steeler HC Mike Tomlin on an unsportsmanlike penalty on WR George Pickens.
“He just needs to grow up, man. It is 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 proved costly
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. A 36-yard gain puts Pittsburgh at the Cincinnati 13-yard line.
But his post-game celebration made up for an easy penalty call from the ref. Pickens raised his right hand with two fingers in a finger gun pointed toward Cincinnati’s end-zone stands. 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 aside to talk to him.
The Steelers didn’t get a first down from there. They instead gained 5 yards and settled for Chris Boswell’s field-goal attempt. Cincinnati fumbled the kick, and the Steelers went scoreless after advancing to the Bengals’ 13-yard line on a big gain by Pickens.
Pickens was fortunate that the penalty did not result in an ejection. He was previously flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first quarter and given a warning.
The Steelers ended up winning this AFC North shootout, 44-38. Pickens finished with three catches on six targets for 68 yards and a TD.
Pickens had previously been warned of a possible ejection
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 play, Pickens threw the ball directly into the face of Bengals linebacker Jermaine Pratt, who was tackled by Pickens and lay face down on the turf.
The ball drop drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty that the officials ruled a foul.
The pejorative designation came with a warning that Pickens would be kicked out for another infraction. Fortunately for Pickens, the officials did not consider the penalty to be taunting like his second unsportsmanlike conduct and he remained in the game.
Like his second penalty, Pickens first asked Jones to pull him aside to share a few words. On this drive, the Steelers eventually scored a touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.
Officials previously refused to flag Pickens for a celebration on Pittsburgh’s first score of the day. In that one, Pickens took a screen pass from Wilson 17 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. After scoring, Pickens put the ball into the stands.
It all added up to Pickens’ complete experience, complete with big, game-changing plays and avoidable mistakes after the game that cost his team.
