CLEVELAND —With the game hanging in the balance, Aaron Rodgers went Marquez Valdes-Scantling 's way for a third time in a row. The Pittsburgh Steelers watched as the result zipped between the veteran receiver's hands and crashed to the ground.
Valdes-Scantling felt the officials swallowed their whistles when it mattered most. He thought that Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward didn't give him a fair crack at getting to the fourth-and-goal jump ball with moments to go.
"That was definitely interference," Rodgers said afterward.
"I went to go attack Ward, went to double-move him. I got a pretty clean release on him, got on top of him and the ball went up, and then he did a good job of playing through me," Valdes-Scantling said afterward. "I thought I should've got a call, but no call was made, so that's what it was."
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling during a practice on Nov. 5, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Rodgers had masterfully orchestrated a two-minute drill leading up to the disappointing ending. Starting the drive at his own 35, Rodgers hit Scotty Miller , Pat Freiermuth (twice) and Adam Thielen to move get the Steelers into position to try to tie the game up.
He tried hitting Valdes-Scantling three times in a row, with the final miss sealing matters. Valdes-Scantling finished the day with three receptions for 21 yards. He was targeted nine times.
Valdes-Scantling had to step up as the Steelers' de facto No. 1 receiver with DK Metcalf serving the first half of his two-game suspension and Calvin Austin III out with a hamstring injury. Valdes-Scantling entered the matchup having played in three games for the Steelers. He had just two receptions for 25 yards to that point.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Aaron Rodgers Assigns Blame for Missed Jump Ball in Steelers Loss
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