A fight and then fighting words.
George Pickens vented about the Browns, the refs and the snowy conditions after the Steelers star receiver got into an altercation with Cleveland cornerback Greg Newsome II following a 24-19 defeat.
Pickens claimed “nothing” happened when asked about Newsome, though he had plenty to say on the rest of the evening.
“Conditions played a huge, huge part in today’s game,” Pickens said, per ESPN, after the AFC North rivals played through a lake effect snow storm in the second half.
“I don’t really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today.”
The Browns led, 10-6, heading into the fourth quarter before a wild final 15 minutes unfolded.
The Browns scored a touchdown early in the stanza before the Steelers struck twice in a three-minute span to go ahead, 19-18.
Nick Chubb’s second touchdown of the game gave the Browns the lead for good with 57 seconds left.
Pickens was left frustrated by two plays in particular in the fourth quarter: pass interference that wasn’t called on a deep pass and a missed connection between he and Russell Wilson on a throw to the end zone.
“The snow, the conditions were so bad,” said Pickens, who finished with four catches for 48 yards. “I don’t even think the QB could see sometimes. And when you got conditions like that, at the opponents’ home field, it kind of plays in their favor.”
After Chubb’s touchdown, the Steelers drove the ball to the Browns’ 35-yard-line to attempt a Hail Mary.
As the pass was easily knocked down, Pickens and Newsome were entangled leading to a skirmish that spilled out of the back of the end zone and into the wall near the fans.
Newsome wrote on X that Pickens was a “fake tough guy.”
The loss dropped the Steelers to 8-3 and improved the Browns to 3-8 — and the two teams will play again Dec. 8.
