Ben Roethlisberger Believes DK Metcalf Would Have Made the Game-Tying Catch That Marquez Valdes-Scantling Couldn’t

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the lowly Cleveland Browns 13-6 in Week 17 to drop to 9-7. That sets up a matchup for the AFC North title with the 8-8 Baltimore Ravens next Sunday. Realistically, Pittsburgh could have avoided this scenario if not for the absence of DK Metcalf.

The former All-Pro receiver got into a highly publicized tussle with a Detroit Lions fan during Pittsburgh’s win in the Motor City in Week 16. While the evidence points to Metcalf being verbally abused by the fan on multiple occasions and reporting the incident to stadium security to no avail, the wideout’s physical reaction warranted punishment.

He received a two-game suspension for the altercation. It was somewhat harsh considering what has come out about the fan’s interaction with Metcalf last year, but it is hard to argue. And without Metcalf, the Steelers were only able to muster 160 passing yards, a season low.

More crucially, it was a lesser WR in Marquez Valdes-Scantling to whom Rodgers was throwing an end zone fade with the game on the line. He wasn’t able to bring it in, and team legend Big Ben Roethlisberger, who was streaming the game live for his podcast, believes that’s a situation where Metcalf would have made a difference.

“I will say this: there’s where—I think DK makes that play,” Roethlisberger said.

While we agree with Ben that Metcalf is a better player, neither he nor MVS is really considered a great jump ball receiver, a 50-50 receiver. Now, George Pickens, that’s a contested catch expert. But let’s not open up that can of worms again.

Officials may have missed a crucial penalty on final Aaron Rodgers throw

The play in question was fourth and goal from the seven with 21 seconds left, and the Steelers were down 13-6. Rodgers had already thrown the ball to Valdes-Scantling on each of the previous two plays to no avail. He went back to his old Green Bay Packers teammate a third straight time with a better ball on a fade route.

Browns CB Denzel Ward was there to defend the play, though there was a lot of contact from the DB, and he did not turn his head around to play the ball. You can be the judge of whether or not this was a blown call:

The ball goes right through MVS’s hands as he wrestles through Ward. The NFL gets just what it wanted: a meaningful matchup between the Ravens and Steelers with the division title on the line on Sunday Night Football in Week 18.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, Metcalf will still be suspended for that one. Massive tight end Darnell Washington also suffered a broken arm during the game against the Browns, so he will be out. WR2 Calvin Austin, who was out with a hamstring injury against the Browns, is also in danger of missing this one.

That means Rodgers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith need to come up with a much better game plan to utilize the receiving talent the Steelers do have: tight ends, running backs, Adam Thielen, and perhaps even Roman Wilson?