The Pittsburgh Steelers got in their own way with mind-boggling play calls and decisions in Sunday's embarrassing 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns .
With the game hanging in the balance, Aaron Rodgers targeted Marquez Valdes-Scantling 's three straight times . All were incomplete. The last one was a 50/50 ball on a fade route.
Browns five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward was baffled by Pittsburgh's decision to target him on three straight plays.
Rodgers also threw a 50/50 go ball to Scotty Miller on fourth-and-1 from Cleveland's 22-yard line in the second quarter. Rodgers' pass was way out of reach for Miller, squandering a chance to put up points after Jack Sawyer 's interception off Shedeur Sanders .
MVS was targeted a team-high nine times. He caught only three passes for 21 yards. Second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson played just nine snaps.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks Rodgers plays favorites and lacks trusts in receivers that he has little to no history with.
"This weird thing with guys he trusts. Why can't you trust guys faster? Why does it need to be somebody you spent years with, why can't you warm up to somebody?" Florio said on NBC's Pro Football Talk . "You're not willing to leap with a stranger? It's just weird to me. He clings to relationships with guys who's skills aren't what they used to be."
Rodgers was teammates with MVS for four seasons in Green Bay. In 2020 with Rodgers, Valdes-Scantling set career highs in receiving yards (690) and touchdowns (6) while making 12 starts. He also had a career high 20.9 yards per catch that season.
Valdes-Scantling is not the same player that he used to be, however. He's been on three different teams this year.
Rodgers said last month that MVS is one of his favorite teammates of all-time.
"I love MVS. I've always enjoyed playing with him," Rodgers said . "He's one of my favorite teammates of all-time. He is a really special guy, and I think MVS can still really play. You saw last year when he was in New Orleans , he had opportunities. He had a lot of big touchdowns. He could still run."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Analyst Blasts Aaron Rodgers for Playing Favorites: 'He Clings to Relationships'
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