George Pickens sends emphatic message to critics following breakout performance vs. Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver George Pickens has always been oozing with jaw-dropping talent. Nobody ever questioned that. But he recently came under fire after his refusal to block for one of his teammates in a matchup vs. the Indianapolis Colts. Pickens clearly heard his critics and decided to silence them on Saturday night. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, he exploded for four catches for 195 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Following his breakout performance, the mercurial superstar was quick to clap back at his critics on social media, writing, “Kept receipts. 100”.

George Pickens with a message for those who’d criticized him for a lack of effort 👀

Pickens caught 4 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns tonight 🤯

(via 1.issue / IG) pic.twitter.com/S6LzMa2F9E

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 24, 2023

Pittsburgh defeated Cincinnati 34-11 on Saturday night and that was in large part, thanks to a spectacular performance from Pickens. The former Georgia star channeled all of his energy and emotions and used them as fuel against the Bengals. Mason Rudolph finished the night with 290 passing yards, while throwing two touchdown passes, both of them to Pickens.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens came under fire last week for his blocking, or lack thereof, on a potential touchdown run by running back Jaylen Warren against the Indianapolis Colts. After the Steelers’ Week 16 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals Pickens is back in the spotlight, but for a totally different reason.

Pittsburgh did something they have not regularly done this season: start the game with an opening touchdown drive. And that touchdown was courtesy of an 86-yard touchdown catch by none other than George Pickens.

Pickens’ big first half

It was quite the first half for Pickens and the Steelers. Pittsburgh dominated Cincinnati in the first two quarters, leading 24-0 at the half. Pickens was a nightmare for the Bengals secondary in this contest. Although he had just three catches in the half, those catches went for 129 yards and a touchdown, the 86-yard catch mentioned above. Defensively, Pittsburgh has allowed just 15 yards rushing and has given Cincinnati quarterback Jake Browning fits, as he has thrown two interceptions in the game.

A tip of the hat has to go to the man on the other end of Pickens’ big first half: Mason Rudolph. After starting a number of games for Pittsburgh the last few seasons, the former Oklahoma State quarterback started the year as Pittsburgh’s third-string quarterback. However, Tomlin gave him the starting nod against the Bengals, and Rudolph was on fire in the first half. Rudolph completed 12 of 19 passes for 193 yards, with one passing touchdown in the first half.

On3’s Justin Rudolph also contributed to this article.