The Pittsburgh Steelers offense had no answer for the loss of wide receiver DK Metcalf in their crucial loss Sunday in Cleveland.
But according to their No. 2 receiving target, the Steelers offense is still capable of putting up points against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth spoke out about what he expects from the Steelers offense in their win-or-go-home game after their dud of a performance against the Cleveland Browns in a 13-6 loss in Week 17.
The Steelers (9-7) could have clinched the AFC North with a simple win in Cleveland yet were dragged into the do-or-die game after they put up 291 yards of offense but could not score a touchdown.
Pittsburgh holds a one-game lead over the rival Ravens for the AFC North lead, but Baltimore will win the division with a victory Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium.
Pat Freiermuth: The Steelers’ Offensive Performance ‘Wasn’t Acceptable’ Against The Browns
The Steelers clearly missed Metcalf, their leading receiver who was suspended for the first of his two games for his altercation with a fan in Pittsburgh’s Week 16 game against the Detroit Lions.
Though it managed 131 yards rushing, Pittsburgh’s passing offense was in shambles, netting just 160 yards through the air. Aaron Rodgers finished with 168 yards and no touchdowns or turnovers, with Freiermuth amassing 63 yards on three catches.
Despite his big game, Freiermuth took issue with the offensive effort as a whole Sunday.
“It wasn’t acceptable from myself and a lot of the [offensive] unit,” Freiermuth said. “It was just a bad performance.”
The Steelers were 3 for 15 converting third downs and 0 for 3 on fourth-down attempts, while posting just a pair of Chris Boswell field goals in the first half. Pittsburgh was shut out over the final 30 minutes for the second time in its past five games.
Still, the offensive effort was unnerving for the Steelers, who entered play Sunday riding a three-game winning streak. Pittsburgh had averaged 28 points per game over its previous three and averaged almost 380 yards of offense per game.
“We just got to be able to look at the film and get back to what we’ve been doing the past couple of games prior to Cleveland,” Freiermuth said.
The Steelers Are Focused On Beating The Ravens
That the Steelers have clinched Mike Tomlin’s 19th straight .500-or-better season and are one win from their fifth playoff appearance in six years is a testament to Tomlin’s leadership.
So Freiermuth believes Pittsburgh will be ready to go in front of the home, Terrible Towel-waving fans Sunday night.
“It’s all about Baltimore,” the tight end said. “I think everyone in the locker room is ready to get past what we put on film and what we displayed on Sunday and being able to go into Sunday Night Football and be able to execute and win.
“We’re just focused on beating Baltimore.”
The Steelers went to M&T Bank Stadium and won Dec. 7, which started their three-game run. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-high 284 yards and one touchdown and ran for a TD as well.
Freiermuth is confident in the Steelers quarterback doing what he can to ensure Sunday night will not be Rodgers’ final NFL game too, since the veteran has hinted at retirement for much of the season.
“He’s been there and done that and is very calm and cool and collected in those moments,” Freiermuth said. “Everyone has all the faith in the world in him, and we got to do whatever it takes to win on Sunday.”
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