Steelers Now
CLEVELAND — The player not on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense on Sunday was more glaring than the ones who were. Suspended for an interaction with a fan in Detroit, DK Metcalf was forced to sit at home and watch as the Steelers’ attack missed him.
In an inexplicable 13-6 loss to the moribund Cleveland Browns, Scotty Miller was the team’s leading wideout with three catches for 25 yards. Tight end Pat Freiermuth finished with 63 yards on three grabs, two of which he snared on the team’s final drive. Aaron Rodgers tried going to Marquez Valdes-Scantling three times in a row in a goal-to-go situation, halting that march.
All three attempts were off the mark. The story might’ve been different had Metcalf been at his disposal.
Miller said the Browns’ secondary didn’t defend the receiver group much differently than it expected.
“But it’s always tough when you don’t have a freak like DK on the back side,” Miller said.
Veteran Adam Thielen agreed with the impact that not having Metcalf had on the Steelers’ passing game.
“He’s paid the way he is for a reason, because he’s a difference-maker,” Thielen said. “He draws a lot of attention and he makes a lot of big plays, so, yeah, tough to not have him there. But that’s no excuse. We feel very strongly that whoever’s out there can go and make those plays and carry the weight that we’re missing, but it didn’t happen today.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin noticed a difference without his No. 1 receiver, too.
“It was an impact, but we’ve certainly got capable men, and we expect those guys to make necessary plays,” Tomlin said. “And we certainly didn’t make enough today.”
The Steelers will also be without Metcalf in an AFC North-deciding primetime matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at home on Sunday. It will be up to Miller, Thielen, Valdes-Scantling and second-year Michigan product Roman Wilson to reawaken the air game.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Offense Learns Life is Tough Without DK Metcalf
