Mike Tomlin offers brutally honest advice to George Pickens after Week 13 win

Tomlin isn't wrong here.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) breaks through the defense for a touchdown reception in the first quarter of the NFL Week 13 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) breaks through the defense for a touchdown reception in the first quarter of the NFL Week 13 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 to move to 9-3 but this win wasn't all sunshine and sprinkles for the team. One of the most frustrating moments of the game came in the first quarter when George Pickens had an incredible catch and run that went for 21 yards.

Unfortunately, we wouldn't be talking about it if something didn't happen. The refs threw the yellow flag at Pickens and called him for taunting, which ended up only giving the Steelers six yards of that spectacular 21-yard-play due to the 15-yard penalty.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin wasn't having it and put his star receiver on blast following the game. Tomlin said, "He's just got to grow up man. This emotional game, man, these divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he's George, he understands that, but he's got to grow up. He's got to grow up in a hurry."

Mike Tomlin doesn't hold back when talking about George Pickens' antics

No one would disagree with what Tomlin is saying here. Pickens does have his dramatic moments and this particular instance hurt his team. Fortunately, the Steelers ended up winning the game but this happened when it was still a shootout and the Steelers were actually down by a touchdown at that point.

Just last week, we saw Pickens tackle a cornerback on the final play rather than focus on catching what could have been the game-winning Hail Mary touchdown pass. He's no stranger to doing things that make Steelers fans want to bang their heads against the wall.

It was good to see Broderick Jones get in Pickens' face after the flag was thrown and scream at him. Pickens needs to hear it from everyone on the Steelers staff and hopefully Jones yelling at him and Tomlin telling him to grow up will make him realize that he needs to stop acting like this once and for all.

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