Steelers' Diontae Johnson says the refs 'cost us the game' vs. Jaguars
The Pittsburgh Steelers took an L on Sunday vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. There was plenty of blame to go around, as multiple impact players went out with injuries. However, according to Diontae Johnson, that's not why the Steelers lost: "Calling Some Stupid Stuff" "They was calling some stupid stuff," Johnson told reporters after the game. […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers took an L on Sunday vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
There was plenty of blame to go around, as multiple impact players went out with injuries.
However, according to Diontae Johnson, that's not why the Steelers lost:
"Calling Some Stupid Stuff"
"They was calling some stupid stuff," Johnson told reporters after the game. "They should get fined for calling bad, making worse, terrible calls and stuff like that. That's how pissed I am. They cost us the game. I don't care what nobody say. They cost us the game…
"…I didn't like the refs today. They must've got paid good today or something, but they blew — that field goal, that hurt us coming into the half. We needed that…
"…[The officials] wanted [the Jaguars] to win, bro. They was calling, everything was in their favor. They was getting every little call, but it is what it is. But we can't, like I said, I'm moving on from it. I'm ready for Thursday."
The main play that is in question was the Chris Boswell 55-yard field goal before half that was successful…
Until it wasn't:
As you can see, no one was lined up offsides for the Steelers. This call turned what was an incredibly difficult field goal into a nearly impossible one given the conditions, as Boswell would miss the subsequent 61-yarder wide right.
It turns out Johnson wasn't the only one upset with the call, as Coach Tomlin was visibly irate both during and after the game:
I didn't get a lot of dialogue," Tomlin said when asked whether there was an explanation given from the officials. "I hadn't seen that called in 17 years of standing on the sidelines. Offsides, lined up offsides on a guard, on a field goal protection. It didn't matter what they said. I've never seen that."
So sure, the refs had a rough day, I didn't even include the call that should have been roughing the passer on the play in which Kenny Pickett was injured, nor did I mention some of the ticky-tack calls on James Pierre early in the game.
Why?
Because it's just excuses.
The Steelers' defense turned the Jaguars over not one, not two, but three times. Yet how many points did the offense score?
10.
That's not acceptable, even with a backup QB.
So yeah, did the officials call a clean game? Of course not.
But Pittsburgh has a lot of looking in the mirror to do after that game, and a short amount of time to do it, with Tennessee coming to town in just three days' time.
Steelers injury update following 20-10 loss vs. Jaguars
Here is where the Steelers stand on the injury front following Sunday.
