In the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 17 29-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Russell Wilson threw a costly interception in the end zone.
On that play, wideout George Pickens was heavily criticized by many for not running a proper route on the outside that allowed Chiefs safety Justin Reid to break off and make the interception on a pass intended for tight end Pat Freiermuth.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) looks at quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images
After the game, coach Mike Tomlin didn’t think Pickens was responsible, saying he had “zero to do” with the play.
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who knows a little something about throwing interceptions, disagreed with Tomlin’s assessment and offered up his truth.
“Basically, you’re trying to in-and-out the safeties and corners and then trying to find the seams down the field,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. “Issue No. 1 is George Pickens didn’t run his route. That’s issue No. 1. Because if he doesn’t run his route, the safety has no threat now.
“Now I can go rob that ball, because there’s nothing holding me over there,” Roethlisberger said. “If George runs his route down the sideline, I have to honor that, because it’s George and he’s in my zone.”
Placing blame doesn’t fix the interception, but if Pickens accepts that blame then it might prevent future turnovers. It also has little to do with the Steelers’ current three-game losing streak as they appear to limp into the playoffs after a Week 18 matchup with Cincinnati that they desperately need to win.
