- The Pittsburgh Steelers took on the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
- After falling behind 29-0, the Steelers ultimately made it a one-score game with just minutes to go.
- During their final drive of the game, wide receiver Chase Claypool celebrated a first-down catch and ultimately cost the Steelers an extra chance to tie the game.
After being down 29-0 at one point, the Pittsburgh Steelers mounted a furious second-half comeback, cutting the score down to 36-28 with just seconds to go. Having the ball with a chance to tie the game, the Steelers began their drive within their own 5-yard-line and ultimately brought it down to the Minnesota Vikings’ redzone.
The final play of the game was an incomplete pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth in the endzone, but the ball was knocked away by Vikings’ safety Harrison Smith.
However, had wide receiver Chase Claypool not celebrated a first-down catch during the drive, the Steelers would’ve likely had time for at least one more play, leading NFL fans to rip the second-year wide receiver for his immaturity and lack of game awareness.
Chase Claypool cost the Steelers AT LEAST 5 seconds posing & pointing
that would have given the Steelers 1 more play… 1 more shot to tie it up
so dumb, so clueless pic.twitter.com/cy7wSkv4XE
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 10, 2021
Chase Claypool celebrating his first down when his team trying to spike the ball pic.twitter.com/UhjKkubB47
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) December 10, 2021
[20 seconds left driving to win]
*chase claypool* pic.twitter.com/feMVMdsG3k
— Allan Bell (@AllanGBell) December 10, 2021
Claypool celebrating when you need a spike 😂
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) December 10, 2021
Claypool is so immature man. Getting near end of year 2. It’s the beginning of the game and you’re screwing your team over with selfish decisions.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 10, 2021
Claypool celebrating and cost his tm 10 secs. 🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️🤦🏾♂️
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) December 10, 2021
Claypool just hit em with the first dahn with 30 seconds left & no timeouts
— Gump Cathcart (@bubbagumpino) December 10, 2021
Claypool giving a first down pose while the clock is ticking and his teammates have to take the ball out of his hands to give to ref speaks volumes.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) December 10, 2021
Did Claypool catch the ball and point "first down" in a 2-minute drill??? Sometimes the immaturity of young players drives coaches nuts
— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) December 10, 2021
Chase Claypool celebrated a first down with no timeouts left and wasted 3 seconds.
Could’ve had another shot at the end with those 3 seconds. pic.twitter.com/g6lztnE7Mg
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 10, 2021
Just ZERO situational awareness by Chase Claypool here pic.twitter.com/0rsTrlyOW7
— Bet The Pigskin (@betthepigskin) December 10, 2021
Here Claypool go with that dumb azz stuff!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) December 10, 2021
Chase Claypool celebrating a catch with his team around him trying to get in formation with no timeouts and seconds ticking off the clock was art.
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) December 10, 2021
Chase Claypool celebrating a 9 yard catch with 36 seconds on the clock pic.twitter.com/opJvLSdTLx
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) December 10, 2021
Lol Claypool just wasted like 12 seconds with his first-down signal.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 10, 2021
Following the Thursday Night Football loss, the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped to 6-6-1, which puts them at third place in the NFC North. As for the Minnesota Vikings, the win took them to 6-7. The Steelers’ 2021 season will resume on Sunday, December 19 when they take on the Tennessee Titans, while the Vikings will play the Chicago Bears on Monday, December 20.
Coincidentally enough, Claypool made headlines earlier this week for suggesting that the Steelers should play more music at practice, a suggestion that was wholly dismissed by Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin, who said in response: “Claypool plays wide out and I’ll let him do that — I’ll formulate the practice approach and I think that division of labor is appropriate.”
RELATED: Mike Tomlin Is Not Interested In Chase Claypool’s Suggestions For Pittsburgh Steeler Practices