Steelers Now
CLEVELAND — With the game hanging in the balance, Aaron Rodgers went Marquez Valdes-Scantling’s way for a third time in a row. The Pittsburgh Steelers watched as the result zipped between the veteran receiver’s hands and crashed to the ground.
Valdes-Scantling felt the officials swallowed their whistles when it mattered most. He thought that Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward didn’t give him a fair crack at getting to the fourth-and-goal jump ball with moments to go.
“That was definitely interference,” Rodgers said afterward.
“I went to go attack Ward, went to double-move him. I got a pretty clean release on him, got on top of him and the ball went up, and then he did a good job of playing through me,” Valdes-Scantling said afterward. “I thought I should’ve got a call, but no call was made, so that’s what it was.”
Rodgers had masterfully orchestrated a two-minute drill leading up to the disappointing ending. Starting the drive at his own 35, Rodgers hit Scotty Miller, Pat Freiermuth (twice) and Adam Thielen to move get the Steelers into position to try to tie the game up.
He tried hitting Valdes-Scantling three times in a row, with the final miss sealing matters. Valdes-Scantling finished the day with three receptions for 21 yards. He was targeted nine times.
Valdes-Scantling had to step up as the Steelers’ de facto No. 1 receiver with DK Metcalf serving the first half of his two-game suspension and Calvin Austin III out with a hamstring injury. Valdes-Scantling entered the matchup having played in three games for the Steelers. He had just two receptions for 25 yards to that point.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Aaron Rodgers Assigns Blame for Missed Jump Ball in Steelers Loss
