The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense looked great from start to finish in Week 8 against the New York Giants, but early on, they just couldn’t find the end zone. Steelers star wide receiver George Pickens seemingly scored a touchdown on a brilliant route, but it was called back for a face mask penalty on Broderick Jones, halting yet another promising drive and erasing a big Pickens play. A few drives later, Pickens appeared to score again, but the officials ruled it incomplete, claiming he failed to get his second foot down despite tapping the same foot twice.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Russell Wilson and George Pickens celebrate after connecting on a touchdown in 2024.
Despite the frustrations, the Steelers persevered, ultimately securing a 26-18 win to improve their record to 6-2. Pickens, undeterred by the missed touchdown opportunities, still had a strong performance, finishing with four receptions for 74 yards.
His efforts kept the Steelers' offense moving, and his chemistry with quarterback Russell Wilson was evident even on plays that didn’t end in points. The resilience of the offense, coupled with a determined defense, allowed Pittsburgh to come away with a hard-earned victory.
After the game, Wilson praised Pickens’ performance and potential when speaking with the media. He emphasized how much he values Pickens as a playmaker. Wilson wanted to make sure to credit Pickens for a huge night, even if the box score doesn't truly reflect that.
"And GP [George Pickens] really, he really had a great, great night," Wilson said. "I mean, he had two touchdowns that unfortunately got called back, but he was special tonight too."
Wilson was asked about Pickens' second near-touchdown that didn't make it onto the scoreboard. At first glance, it looked like an obvious score, with Pickens appearing to secure two taps in bounds.
However, officials quickly determined that only one foot had made contact, albeit twice, and NFL rules require both feet to touch down for a touchdown to count. After the win, Wilson spoke about the call, acknowledging the frustration, but also praising Pickens’ effort and skill in making such a challenging play.
"Yeah, I mean I almost feel like it’s an interesting rule," Wilson said. "Obviously, we thought maybe he had dragged his toe and maybe got it down. I mean when you get the same foot down twice and it’s a clear one and another one, it’s almost like getting a knee down and it counts as a touchdown."
Wilson suggested that maybe two taps of the same foot should be enough, but unfortunately, the call stood as incomplete. Even so, he made sure to highlight Pickens' effort, ensuring his hard work didn’t go unnoticed.
"Getting two rights maybe should count, but I don’t know, I mean he had a great game," Wilson told the Pittsburgh media. "I know obviously he wants those two touchdowns. We all want those two touchdowns, it really would have broken out the game early on for us. He made two great catches."
After the Steelers suffered back-to-back losses in the 2024 season, fans quickly expressed their frustration with Pickens, criticizing his attitude and effort. However, with Wilson now at the helm, Pickens appears happier than ever and is playing with renewed energy. He’s shown a great attitude on the field, celebrating with teammates and making crucial blocks to help the offense.
Steelers' Pickens Has Been Misunderstood In The Steel City
Pickens can be somewhat misunderstood; he tends to show frustration when the offense isn’t involving him or performing poorly. Yet when the offense is clicking, he thrives. It’s straightforward: the key to keeping your best offensive weapon happy is to get him more targets and involve him early in the game.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' George Pickens during practice ahead of a Week 7 matchup with the New York Jets in 2024.
While Pickens’ attitude and effort have fluctuated in the eyes of fans, his recent performances are solidifying his status as a star wide receiver. He’s beginning to build strong chemistry with Wilson, and had those two touchdowns counted, he would have had an even more impressive game. Instead, he finished with a productive outing and played a vital role in contributing to the team’s victory.
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