The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense showed up big in a clutch AFC North showdown against the Baltimore Ravens. With playoff odds on the line, Aaron Rodgers put together his best game of the season, throwing for 284 yards and a score on 8.4 yards per attempt. We can't forget to thank DK Metcalf.
The Steelers' number one wide receiver showed up clutch with a massive performance in the 27-22 win, recording seven receptions for 148 yards on 12 targets. Before Week 14, Metcalf topped 100 yards just once in a game (all the way back in the Steelers' Week 4 win against the Minnesota Vikings).
Not only was Metcalf's 148 receiving yards a season high, but it was also more combined receiving yards than the two-time Pro Bowl receiver earned in his previous five games combined (144 yards from Week 9 to Week 13).
Metcalf finally looked like the wide receiver Steelers fans were hoping to get when the team traded a second-round pick to the Seahawks for the big receiver and paid him roughly $33 million per season on a new contract.
Best of all, Metcalf's performance put George Pickens' Week 14 performance to shame... and he finally convinced fans that the team made the right decision.
DK Metcalf shines for the Pittsburgh Steelers as George Pickens melts down on the Dallas Cowboys
It didn't necessarily need to be a one-or-the-other situation for the Steelers between Metcalf and Pickens. However, after trading for Metcalf, Pickens (and all the headaches he came with) became expendable.
For most of the season, Pickens has been outstanding on his new team. This made Steelers fans furious with the organization for trading him before the season. However, Metcalf's stellar performance against the Ravens, combined with an ugly showing from Pickens, flipped the entire narrative on its head in Week 14.
In a huge game against the Detroit Lions in Week 14, Pickens recorded just 37 yards on 9 targets while getting called for a pair of penalties. Pickens's lackluster effort was called out as his questionable route running led to an interception and several huge missed opportunities. The Steelers' 2022 second-round pick also had a fumble against the Lions.
The Cowboys' problems with Pickens didn't end there, as the fourth-year receiver took to social media to call out Richard Sherman for criticizing his performance against Detroit.
In moments like these, Pittsburgh Steelers fans should take comfort in the fact that DK Metcalf is their top receiver. In the biggest game of the season, Metcalf rose to the occasion with his best game of the year. Meanwhile, Pickens crumbled in Dallas' must-have game.
Metcalf isn't perfect, but this was an encouraging performance against the Ravens that gives us optimism about what he will bring moving forward.