Mike Tomlin responds to Bengals WR Tyler Boyd's 'gave up' comments

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-10 loss at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals last week, several people spoke out about the Steelers’ poor performance, including Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd.

“I think the good thing about that win was, not only did the Steelers feel that, everybody in the country felt it,” Boyd said. “Because the last plays of the game for them, they gave up. You could see it. They had three drops in a row.”

The Bengals scored first on Sunday late in the first quarter. Pittsburgh tied the game at seven midway through the second quarter but managed only three points from that point on. On their final two drives, they turned the ball over on downs. 

“For a team to see that is giving us more power, giving us the antidote to know how good we are,” Boyd added. “For a team to just lay down like that before the game is over because no matter how much were are losing by or whatever the case may be, I know me, I know us, we’re not going to give up. We’re going to continue to try and make something happen. But they portrayed it to the whole nation on TV what they were about and how they gave up.”

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin did not take kindly to the comments from the Pittsburgh native who played college football for the Panthers. 

“I don’t care about Tyler Boyd’s opinion regarding what transpired at any point in that game,” Tomlin said. “Like I said after the game, and it includes him, I tip my cap to that team and that organization for their performance and win. I proceed on to the next challenge. . . . He’s entitled to his opinion, but I don’t have to respond to it.”

Boyd’s comments came a day after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger used the phrase “don’t quit” in his postgame remarks. 

“You know, there’s a little something called pride when you play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, when you put black and gold on,” said the quarterback, who is in his 18th year in the NFL. “And you may not have the best day. Things may not be going your way. But you don’t quit, and you get back up and you fight.”

Since 2010, the Steelers have gone 19-5 against the Bengals, but Cincinnati has beaten them twice in a row as the franchise tries to turn its misfortune around. Quarterback Joe Burrow led the charge on Saturday for the Bengals, going 14-for-18 with 172 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Boyd made four catches on six targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. 

The Bengals are now 2-1 on the season, while Pittsburgh is 1-2. The teams meet again, this time in Cincinnati, on Nov. 28. Pittsburgh’s next game is at Green Bay, and Cincinnati’s next contest is Thursday night against Jacksonville.