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Denzel Ward had message for Steelers after game

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Dec 29, 2025 10:06 AM ET

Denzel Ward had a message for the Pittsburgh Steelers after they tried to throw at him to end their Week 17 contest.

Ward’s Cleveland Browns upset the Steelers 13-6 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sunday. The Steelers had the ball at the Cleveland 10-yard line needing a touchdown to tie or take the lead. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw to teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling on second, third, and fourth-and-goal. All three passes went incomplete with Ward in coverage, resulting in the Steelers turning the ball over to the Browns on downs.

DENZEL WARD ENDS THE GAME NO FLY ZONE pic.twitter.com/RrtmAzWUim
— wok (@dontsipwok) December 28, 2025

Ward did not fail to recognize that the Steelers had thrown at him for the final three plays. The 28-year-old cornerback made note of it while speaking with reporters ater the game.

“I just try to make it hard on teams every time they decide to look at the scouting report and see who they’re going to attack and make it hard on them when they come my way. I don’t know whose bright idea it was to try me for the game for three plays in a row, but we was (sic) able to come through and get the win,” Ward said.

#Browns Denzel Ward: “I don’t know whose bright idea it was to try me for the game on three plays in a row.” pic.twitter.com/IcGMpaRuol
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) December 28, 2025

Valdes-Scantling only had 3 catches for 21 yards on 9 targets in the game. Maybe Rodgers defaulted to targeting him because they are old and familiar teammates. It didn’t work out, and now Pittsburgh is 9-7.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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