Steelers' George Pickens roasts Browns despite loss in Cleveland

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to 8-3 on the season via a 24-19 loss at the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night that many will remember for the lake-effect snow conditions that undeniably impacted the game. 

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens spoke with reporters after the defeat and took a shot at the Browns regarding their losing season. 

"Conditions played a huge, huge part in today's game," Pickens said, ESPN's Brooke Pryor shared. "I don't really think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all. I think the conditions kind of saved them today."

Pickens technically isn't wrong about a Browns team that entered Thursday night at 2-8. While reports suggested ahead of the game that Cleveland could part ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski before the weekend if the hosts were "blown out" at Huntington Bank Field, DraftKings Sportsbook showed on Friday morning that Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin was still among the top betting favorites at +400 betting odds to win the Associated Press Coach Of The Year Award for the campaign. 

"The snow, the conditions were so bad," Pickens added during his postgame comments. "I don't even think the QB could see sometimes. And when you got conditions like that at the opponents' home field, it kind of plays in their favor."

Before Pickens spoke, he went viral for grappling with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II during Pittsburgh's last-second Hail Mary throw that was knocked down. Newsome later referred to Pickens as a "fake tough guy" while speaking with ESPN. 

The Steelers began Friday atop the AFC North standings ahead of the 7-4 Baltimore Ravens. Pickens and others in the Pittsburgh locker room can still feel good about what the club could accomplish during the upcoming postseason tournament. That said, one wonders if Pickens could regret giving Cleveland players some bulletin board material, considering the division rivals will face off at Pittsburgh's Acrisure Stadium in Week 14 on Dec. 8. 

The Steelers next play at the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1. 4-7 Cincinnati lost three of its past four games and is enjoying a much-needed bye week.