Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers Calls Out Receivers After Hearing Boos at Home
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called out his receivers following the team's most disappointing loss of the season.
The Steelers were booed by their fans and battered by the Buffalo Bills during a 26-7 defeat that dropped Pittsburgh (6-6) into a tie with the Ravens (6-6) atop the AFC North.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh will play for first place in the division on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. During practice this week, Rodgers wants to see his receivers more attentive so that everyone's on the same page.
"When there's film sessions, everybody shows up, and when I check to a route, you do the right route," Rodgers said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. "... We have our meetings every week. We have other opportunities outside of the facility, and [I] look forward to seeing all the boys there."
Rodgers completed just 10 of 21 passes against Buffalo for 117 yards as Pittsburgh was booed while being blanked in the second half. Pittsburgh's No. 1 wide receiver, DK Metcalf, was held to three catches for 32 yards. Tight end Darnell Washington was Pittsburgh's most productive target with two catches for 45 yards.
Rodgers played with a cast to protect his fractured left wrist, but didn't take himself off the hook for his subpar performance.
"I felt good enough to be out there, just not ready to take a snap under center, hopefully next week for that," Rodgers said. "Disappointed in my performance, disappointed in the offensive performance, and got to flush it."
Asked about being booed at home, Rodgers said, "I totally understand the frustration. That was a boo-worthy performance."
Tension is running high on Pittsburgh's defensive side as well. Veteran tackle Cam Heyward said he was intentionally kneed in the stomach by Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and the two yelled at each other on several occasions.
"We were jawing back and forth," Heyward said via Jarrett Bell of USA Today. "As a quarterback, they're protected but I'm not? It just pisses me off."
Star edge rusher T.J. Watt was hot about Pittsburgh's defense giving up 249 rushing yards, the most the franchise had surrendered since 1975.
"We talk about the talent that we have, we talk about everything that we have, but right now, we don't have a kick-ass defensive group, and that's all that I can speak on," Watt said.
Making matters worse for the Steelers defense, linebacker and former Raven Patrick Queen left Sunday's game with an injury and did not return.
Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders to Remain Starter Following Loss
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski said Sunday that rookie Shedeur Sanders will start his third straight game for the Browns in Week 14. Sanders completed 16 of 25 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown during a 28-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and the Browns were held scoreless in the second half.
"Obviously we lost, so I ain't play well," Sanders said via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com. "There's definitely things on film I'm going to look back and want to get back and want to see, but at least moving forward, I know what we could do differently."
Stefanski hasn't committed to sticking with Sanders for the rest of the season, and he's now 1-1 as a starter. The Browns fell to 3-9, guaranteeing they will have their fourth losing campaign in six years under Stefanski.
Sanders said he hopes to gain valuable experience the remainder of the season.
"This team is not going to be a microwave thing," Sanders said. "We're going to have sparks here and there, but it's going to take time."
The Browns got bad news Monday, as Stefanski said defensive tackle Maliek Collins is out for the season with a quad injury.
Cincinnati Bengals: Playoff Hopes Are Still Alive
The Bengals (4-8) might need to run the table to make the playoffs. However, Joe Burrow's return has given them more hope, and the Bengals have shown previous ability to make a late-season push.
Last season, Cincinnati won its final five games but fell one win short of making the playoffs. Head Coach Zac Taylor believes that recent experience will help them down the stretch.
"Unfortunately, we've been here before, same record," Taylor said via Nate Davis of USA Today. "We know what the urgency level is. I expect our guys to handle it the right way."
After extra time to rest following their Thanksgiving victory over the Ravens, the Bengals visit the Bills in Week 14. It feels like a must-win for Cincinnati, but Taylor said every game should be approached that way.
"Take every game serious and like it is your last," Taylor said. "We must treat every game in November, December, and January as playoff football."
