Steelers' Pickens slights Browns, blames loss on snow, refs - ESPN

CLEVELAND — Though the Cleveland Browns snapped the Pittsburgh Steelers' five-game winning streak with a 24-19 win Thursday night, Steelers wide receiver George Pickens downplayed the Browns' abilities and blamed the loss on heavy snow that fell throughout the game.

«Conditions played a huge, huge part in today's game,» Pickens said. «I don't really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today.»

Pickens had an opportunity to make a late touchdown catch, but the receiver said he and Wilson couldn't connect in the end zone because of the snow.

«The snow, the conditions were so bad,» he said. «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.

Pickens, who finished with four catches on seven targets for 48 yards, also blamed officials for the loss.

He took issue with officials not calling pass interference on cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. during a deep third-down pass attempt from Justin Fields in the fourth quarter, gesturing to them after the play. Though Pickens fell down as the pair ran down the sideline, the contact appeared to be minimal, and officials didn't throw a flag.

»That's what I'm saying," Pickens said when asked about the play. «The conditions and away-game refs.»

As the final seconds ticked off the clock Thursday night, Pickens engaged in a visible altercation with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during the Steelers' Hail Mary attempt. In the locker room afterward though, Pickens said «nothing» happened in the end zone with Newsome.

Newsome was blunt about the situation.

«Fake tough guy,» the cornerback told ESPN, reiterating a social-media post he made on