The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their third loss of the season on Sunday afternoon, losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars by two scores in Week 8. While the team only has three days to prepare for its next game, wide receiver Diontae Johnson is focused on the referees.
After Sunday’s game, Pittsburgh’s third loss by double-digits, Johnson spoke to reporters about the effort. On an afternoon when the Steelers’ offense went 3-for-12 on third down and 0-for-1 in the red zone, Pittsburgh’s star seems to believe another factor determined the outcome.
- Diontae Johnson stats: 16 receptions, 212 receiving yards, 13.3 yards per reception in four games played
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Johnson was blunt with reporters in the locker room, saying that the referees in the Steelers vs Jaguars matchup cost Pittsburgh the game.
“Refs were just killing us the whole game. The same refs we had at training camp. I didn’t like the refs today. At the end of the day, we can’t keep complaining about the refs. Like Coach [Mike Tomlin] say, we can’t worry about the refs, whatever. But everybody’s different.”
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson on the refs in the Week 8 game
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- Diontae Johnson contract: $16.333 million cap hit in 2023, $15.833 million cap hit in 2024
While Johnson did initially fall back in line with Mike Tomlin’s message, that the Steelers can only focus on what they can control, he soon suggested Sunday’s referees wanted the Jaguars to win.
“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.”
Diontae Johnson’s suggesting that NFL referees wanted the Jacksonville Jaguars to win
Johnson’s frustration is understandable and not just because of the loss. While he’s one of the best players on the Steelers’ roster, Johnson hasn’t scored a touchdown since 2021.
However, there were plays on Sunday that proved far costlier for Pittsburgh than any call by NFL referees. Kenny Pickett was not only late on a throw in the end zone, his release and poor ball placement cost Johnson a touchdown.
With Pickett likely out with a rib injury and backup Mitchell Trubisky likely to start on Thursday Night Football, Johnson might have even more reasons to be frustrated in a few days.