The Pittsburgh Steelers have watched Russell Wilson regress a little bit during their brutal three-game stretch. Pittsburgh knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but they didn’t expect to get dominated for three straight games. Against the Baltimore Ravens, Wilson had a key pick-six that really cost Pittsburgh the game. Then, early against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Steelers scored a touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty on tight end Darnell Washington. The following play, Wilson threw an interception, and it proved costly for the team.

Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers’ Russell Wilson looks to pass during a loss to the Chiefs on Christmas Day in 2024.

Fans and pundits quickly jumped on the situation, with many pointing to wide receiver George Pickens, who appeared to stop running on his route, shifting some of the blame toward him. Others argued that as a veteran, Wilson should have seen the breakdown and avoided the mistake. Both players were at fault to some extent, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin didn’t place any blame on Pickens. Tomlin defended his wide receiver, saying that his route running had nothing to do with the interception.

However, Arthur Smith’s comments to Brooke Pryor on Wednesday seemed to contradict Tomlin’s stance. Smith made an interesting observation that suggested Pickens’ actions on the play were indeed a factor. This back-and-forth between the two coaches added some intrigue to the ongoing discussion, leaving fans and analysts eager to understand the true cause of the Steelers’ costly mistakes.

“Not that,” Smith said. “Lesson learned, and you move on. That’s why you coach, and guys learn from mistakes.”

Smith didn’t want to directly place blame on the play he called or the route concept. However, it seems like he was subtly pointing out that Pickens made a mistake on his route, which contributed to the interception. While neither Smith nor Tomlin explicitly said so, the implication was clear in Smith’s statement. Former NFL star Terrell Owens was more vocal on social media, calling out Pickens for not finishing his route, making it an easy interception for Chiefs defensive back Justin Reid.

Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers’ George Pickens after being ruled down against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.

Pickens has proven himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. The real issue arises when he gets frustrated. It’s hard to blame him, considering the struggles he’s faced throughout his career. Pickens has played in a lackluster offensive system with inconsistent quarterback play for most of his time in Pittsburgh. However, when Wilson took over, Pickens’ production quickly saw an uptick, showing his potential when the offense works to his strengths.

Steelers’ George Pickens Likely Not Deserving Of The Blame For Russell Wilson’s Interception

At times, when Pickens gets frustrated, there are concerns that he might take himself out of plays by not giving full effort. On this particular play, Pickens runs what appears to be a four-vertical concept. He starts his route, then casually looks back at Wilson without cutting up the field to engage the Chiefs’ defensive backs, making it an easy interception for the defense.

In the same drive, George Pickens makes a great catch over McDuffie and helps Justin Reid get an INT. Reid is shaded over Pickens, with Hicks over the four-receiver side. With a four-verts (?) concept, Pickens isn't running a route. Reid shifts his eyes to Wilson who targets… pic.twitter.com/9sfdT31yuR

— Daniel Harms🏈 (@InHarmsWay19) December 29, 2024

Watching the tape, it’s hard to definitively place the blame on Pickens. He’s in the middle of his move, and before he can even make a decision to fully finish his route, the ball is already being thrown by Wilson.

Sebastian Foltz / Post-Gazette

Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith and wide receiver George Pickens share some words with one another as the team practices at the UPMC Sports Complex in Pittsburgh, PA.

While you could argue that Pickens should have continued running, it likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome. Wilson shouldn’t have thrown that ball in the first place, and Smith’s subtle comment could very well be a veiled critique of Wilson. However, it seems more likely that Smith is emphasizing the need for Pickens to learn from his mistake.