Steelers' Diontae Johnson Makes Cringeworthy Excuse Following Loss To Cardinals

The Pittsburgh Steelers endured a painful loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and it was one of the most embarrassing defeats they've experienced in recent memory. The Cardinals outplayed the Steelers in every aspect of the game, leaving Pittsburgh with a disheartening 24-10 loss at home. While the game initially held promise for the Steelers, with early red zone opportunities, their offense stalled, ultimately resulting in a Chris Boswell 29-yard field goal as their only score for the majority of the game.

The disappointment continued for the Steelers as they struggled to put points on the board, and the Cardinals dominated every facet of the game. Even with adverse weather conditions that prompted two rain delays, the Steelers had a chance to regroup and improve their performance. However, Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson raised eyebrows with his postgame comments, suggesting that the delays might have affected the team's focus and engagement.

Steelers Negatively Impacted By Weather Delays And Distractions

Following the game, Steelers reporter Brian Batko shared Johnson's perspective. Johnson acknowledged the impact of the rain delays and the need for the team to warm up multiple times, but was careful not to use these factors as excuses. However, they still sounded like just that.

“A lot of stuff - the rain, we had to warm up twice or whatever. Not trying to use that as an excuse but… you don’t know who’s really into it. I’m sure everybody was locked in, but our play didn’t prove that.”

While Johnson claimed he wasn't making excuses, his remarks seemed to imply otherwise. The Steelers, as professional athletes, were expected to maintain their concentration and determination, regardless of external factors like weather delays. Especially in December, as the NFL season reaches its critical stage, every game takes on added significance. Playoff standings become increasingly competitive, and each matchup carries immense weight in determining postseason fates. 

The reality was that the Steelers' performance was subpar, and blaming the delays or any other external factor did not change that fact.

Questioning Johnson's Attitude

Johnson's recent comments added to the scrutiny surrounding his attitude and mental toughness. In the previous week's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he drew criticism for not attempting to recover a loose fumble on the ground, claiming that he didn't see it. This week, he celebrated a touchdown when the Steelers were down by multiple scores, with just four minutes remaining against one of the NFL's weakest teams. His celebratory behavior in such a situation appeared tone-deaf, given the challenging weather conditions for fans and the overall poor performance by the team.

Johnson was asked about scoring late in a postgame interview and he had some possibly forgiving comments.

"I am just playing until the end of the whistle. Just because we are down, we are not going to give up or whatever. We didn't win or put up a bunch of points like we wanted to, but we just got to keep going, trying to find something."

While his comments may help Steelers fans understand his thought process, as a player who has been under the spotlight recently, Johnson is expected to hold himself to a higher standard and display greater maturity and accountability. The Steelers' franchise has a rich history and reputation, and celebrating touchdowns in the face of a significant deficit does not align with the team's values. Johnson's individual performance in the game was modest, with four catches for 33 yards and one meaningless late touchdown.

While it's unfair to pin the blame for the Steelers' loss on Johnson, his performance in the game certainly didn't contribute positively to their chances of winning. Moreover, when you have a star wide receiver like Johnson, you often look to them for leadership in the locker room and on the field. The exact content of the discussions during those weather delays remains a mystery, but whatever transpired didn't appear to ignite the spark needed to turn the game around.

In the NFL, there are days when nothing seems to go your way, and this game was a prime example for the Steelers. A series of unfortunate events unfolded, from losing their starting quarterback to facing a Cardinals team firing on all cylinders. However, adversity is a constant companion in football, and how a team responds to it can define their character.

Johnson now faces the challenge of regrouping and bouncing back, with the next game against the New England Patriots just around the corner on Thursday. It's a chance for both him and the Steelers to prove that they can overcome setbacks and deliver when it matters most. The Steelers are gearing up to face yet another hill of adversity, as it has been reported that Kenny Pickett will undergo surgery and is expected to be sidelined for at least 2-4 weeks. This unfortunate development will mean that Johnson will be catching footballs from Mitch Trubisky for the foreseeable future.

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