The Pittsburgh Steelers did what they had to do on Sunday to secure one of the easiest wins that they will likely have throughout the 2025 season. They won the game by a final score of 23-9, and the contest never seemed to be in question as the game went on. After going into halftime with a 9-3 lead, Pittsburgh turned those field goals into touchdowns as the Cleveland Browns had to keep settling for three. Overall, it was the kind of game that players dream of having, especially after a bye week.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin greets fans after a win against the Browns in Week 14
However, there was one complaint about thd contest. During his postgame press conference, quarterback Aaron Rodgers bashed the playing surface in the second half, and he even hinted at the idea of it taking away a key player for Pittsburgh.
"I feel like [the field] got real beat up," Rodgers said. "By the time the third quarter rolled around, that thing was really beat up. I feel bad about what happened to Miles [Killebrew]. I'm not sure if there was any carry there. I know that field gets a lot of play. I don't know why anybody wouldn't wear seven-studs cleats. Some guys are opposed to that; some guys want to wear [molded cleats], but it reminds me a little bit of the field in Green Bay in the early years, but not until November or early December, where it would get torn up a little bit."
The play he was referring to was on a kickoff, when special teams captain Miles Killebrew suffered a non-contact injury, where it looked like his knee just gave out on him. The injury update on him after the game was not good at all, as it was deemed to be "significant," which could potentially lead to his season officially being over. It was a horrible situation all around for him, and Team President Art Rooney II needs to take notice.
AP Photo / Peter Joneleit
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Miles Killebrew jogs off the field the field following an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Aug. 11, 2023, in Tampa, Fla.
That kind of issue is something you would usually see on an artificial turf field like at MetLife Stadium, but it seemed to be a massive concern in Pittsburgh. The reason many teams do have turf fields is because it's easier and cheaper to maintain. Grass is usually better, but when it is not kept properly, problems like what happened to Killebrew can arise. Hopefully, Killebrew will have a speedy recovery.
Steelers Lost Points In Week 6 Due To Field At Acrisure Stadium
Earlier in the press conference, Rodgers also described the field as "borderline unplayable," in terms to what happened elsewhere in special teams. Kicker Chris Boswell was attempting a 54-yard field goal, and he slipped on the field, which caused the kick to fall very short of the goalpost. He had made three field goals and two extra points earlier in the game, so the idea to go for the three points was not a problem.
Jordan Schofield / @JKSO_PHOTO
Chris Boswell slips while trying to send the game to OT in a 2018 game against the Raiders.
This is not even the first time that Boswell has slipped like this during a game. The other time was in 2018 during a road game against the Oakland Raiders, although that was during a road game. In that contest, there were issues with the field there as well. The biggest difference is the fact that that kick was as time was expiring, so it resulted in a Steelers loss, as opposed to a chance at overtime.
Reports have come out about a bunch of different upgrades coming to Acrisure Stadium. One of them, as reported on the broadcast of the Steelers / Browns game, is new sod coming in right at the conclusion of this contest. The Steelers and the Pittsburgh Panthers, who also play on this field, will be on the road in the upcoming week, which help the groundskeepers make sure everything is safe for the rest of the season.
What do you think about the state of the field at Acrisure Stadium in Week 6? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation
