The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Week 16 contest against the Detroit Lions was filled with controversy. Of course, the DK Metcalf altercation with a Lions fan stole the show for much of the national conversation, but the ending of the game itself was just as wild. The final minutes were marked by confusion, extended stoppages, and a clear lack of flow, leaving fans on both sides unsure of what exactly was happening in real time. As the clock wound down, emotions ran high, and the game took on a tense, chaotic feel that went beyond a typical late-season matchup.
CBS on NFL
DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers grabs a fan aggressively confronts him during a professional football game in Detroit, MI.
There have been plenty of differing opinions about how that game ended and how the referees handled the confusion. The officiating crew did appear to lose some control of the game, which is never a good look, especially in a tight contest with playoff implications. That said, when everything was reviewed, most of the football world agreed that the calls which ultimately decided the outcome were the correct ones. The execution and communication may have been sloppy, but the rulings themselves were consistent with how those situations are usually enforced.
Aidan Hutchinson: “There’s two ways you can look at this. Obviously we want to be better (on defense) in the run game … That sucked. But the intervention I saw from those refs late in that game, I’ve never seen two offensive PI’s to lose a game like that.” pic.twitter.com/8WFVkY4y5L
— 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) December 22, 2025
Still, frustration lingered for the Lions after the 29-24 loss on Sunday afternoon. While several Detroit players tried to avoid placing blame on the officials, the disappointment was hard to ignore. Aidan Hutchinson, in particular, could not completely help himself while speaking with 97.1 The Ticket. He attempted to stay measured in his comments, but still took a few subtle shots at the referees, making it clear that the ending and how it was handled left a bitter taste despite his effort to remain diplomatic.
“Now I grapple with the, you know, you can blame the refs,” Hutchinson said while speaking with the media after the loss to the Steelers. “There is an argument for, ‘Hey, defensively we should have never put our offense in that position in the first place.’ Right, so there are two kinds of ways that we can look at this. Obviously, we would like to be better in the run game. We don’t wanna give up all those explosive runs in the second half. Like that sucked.”
The Steelers’ running game got going in a big way against the Lions, with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell making their impact felt as both runners and receivers.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren celebrate a big time score against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season.
Pittsburgh consistently found success on the ground and through short passes out of the backfield, keeping the Lions’ defense off balance and controlling the tempo when it mattered most.
“But, it’s like, I don’t know, the intervention I saw from those refs late in that game, I’ve never seen two offensive PI’s to lose a game like that,” Hutchinson said. “I don’t know. I am sure there will be some discussion between the NFL about this game to validate or deny the calls. It sucks because there is no changing it. I can bi*** here all I want about the call. The fact is it is the result.”
Steelers Also Were Hurt By The Officiating During Win Over Lions
Hutchinson was self aware enough to admit that Detroit did not do enough to win the game, but he also made it clear he was not happy with the officiating. While he stopped short of fully blaming the referees, his comments reflected lingering frustration with the calls that shaped the closing moments of the contest.
There were several big calls, even late on the final drive, that helped the Lions and hurt the Steelers. Arguments can be made about nearly all of them, but one thing that was clear throughout the game was the consistency of the officials when it came to offensive pass interference. Those calls went both ways, and over the course of four quarters, they largely evened out.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers embrace following Pittsburgh’s 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL Regular Season.
In the end, the Steelers won fair and square. The game may have been messy and emotionally charged, but the outcome was not the result of one-sided officiating. As Mike Tomlin always says, never apologize for winning.
What calls did you agree with during the Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Lions? Which calls did you disagree with? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!