The Pittsburgh Steelers might’ve snagged a 20-13 win on opening Sunday, but that game against a third-string QB-led Atlanta Falcons was a total eyesore. Forget Mike McCarthy’s debut ending in a W, the offense from both teams was a slog to watch, and a huge part of Pittsburgh’s pain came from former Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf, who’s already testing the patience of the Steelers fanbase in his second year.
Drops, Flags, and Frustration: The $33 Million Mess
Metcalf’s stat line for Week 1 , four catches for 40 yards on 10 targets , barely scratches the surface of his disastrous day. We’re talking at least two drops and a pair of offensive pass interference flags. Yeah, you heard that right, two OPIs in one half, as one frustrated fan put it: “WTF.” It’s a brutal start, especially when you consider drops, poor body positioning, and penalties have pretty much plagued him throughout his career, even when he was balling out as an All-Pro back in 2020. Another stat line floating around from the day was 9 targets for only 3 catches and 26 yards. Doesn’t matter which one you look at, it’s not good, and it’s even tougher to stomach when the guy is pulling in $33 million a year.
Aaron Rodgers’ Unreliable Target and a New Star on the Horizon?
The biggest takeaway from Sunday was just how unreliable Metcalf was for Aaron Rodgers. We know DK has that prime physique and the speed to flat-out separate from defenders, but if he can’t consistently make the play, what good is it? His main flaw, some argue, is how he attacks targets with positioning that limits him. On the flip side, Michael Pittman Jr. looked smooth, catching all three of his targets for 58 yards. You have to wonder if, by the end of the season, Pittman Jr. becomes Rodgers’ main guy over Metcalf. If that happens, you know the scrutiny on DK’s massive contract is only gonna ramp up. In his defense, there were a couple of plays where it looked like the refs missed some defensive pass interference calls on A.J. Terrell. But honestly, that’s small consolation when the core issues are so glaring.
This is just Week 1, but for Metcalf, it’s a rough start to his second year in Pittsburgh. Steelers fans are already letting their frustrations be heard loud and clear. He’s got to clean up the drops and penalties, or that $33 million paycheck is going to look less like a star’s salary and more like an anchor for a team that desperately needs efficient offense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Field Gulls.
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