George Pickens recording 0 yards against Bengals has Steelers fans worried about their playoff chances – “Absolutely quit on this team”

George Pickens capped off one of the worst games for a receiver in recent history while playing the Bengals by dropping three passes from six targets.

George Pickens recording 0 yards against Bengals has Steelers fans worried about their playoff chances – “Absolutely quit on this team”

George Pickens (Image via IMAGO)

George Pickens went into the season finale against the divisional rivals Cincinnati Bengals hoping to put on a show and set aside any differences between him and Russell Wilson. Instead, two appeared completely out of sync the entire game.

Pickens began the night with a smart reception in the first quarter, but everything went downhill from then on. Wilson further targeted the third-year wide receiver on five different occasions.

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The veteran shot caller overthrew Pickens three times (they were catchable); one pass hit his hands before hitting the turf, and one final time the Bengals cornerback splatted the pass away. Out of six targets, George Pickens only caught one pass, which did not result in any gain. 

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Social media reacts to George Pickens only catching one pass against the Bengals

Before hosting the Bengals at home in week 18, Pickens made the headlines for ignoring a reporter’s question regarding miscommunication between him and Wilson. A week prior, the 23-year-old was seen unhappy with the service, raising red flags.

George Pickens recording 0 yards against Bengals has Steelers fans worried about their playoff chances - "Absolutely quit on this team"
George Pickens (Image via ESPN)

The Steelers were safely through to the playoffs but Mike Tomlin’s team lost three games in eleven days. Even so, Pickens logged a terrific catch-to-drop ratio—just two all year. However, he dropped three against the Bengals increasing his total to five (same as in 2023).

George Pickens needed 100 yards to reach a consecutive 1000-yard season but he has to remain happy with 900. He ends the season with 59 receptions from 103 targets, 900 yards, and 3 touchdowns in 13 games (missed four games due to injury, which he sustained in the reverse fixture against the Bengals when he caught 3 passes for 74 yards and scored one touchdown in week 13).

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The loss meant little for the sixth-seed Steelers but the Bengals received a mega boost for the seventh-seed. If the Denver Broncos lose against the top-seed Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday and Jets win against the Dolphins, Joe Burrow and the Bengals will play postseason football after a year gap.