“Fire Arthur Smith into the sun” “Crazy terrorist play”: NFL fans rip Steelers OC for not letting Aaron Rodgers throw in game-costing drive vs. Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is getting the heat for his play calls against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers suffered a 13-6 loss to the Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, placing their playoff hopes in jeopardy ahead of the final round.

Smith is under fire for many of his calls in the game, most especially the final drive. The Steelers were looking to tie the game with their last drive and probably take the encounter into overtime. However, Smith's decision on how the drive should go ended up costing the team.

With the game hanging in the balance, Pittsburgh was in a good position to draw things level. Arthur Smith made Aaron Rodgers target wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on three straight plays, with all three targets coming in a goal-to-go situation inside the 10-yard line.

However, all three passes fell incomplete, ending the Steelers’ opportunity to seal the AFC North title in the game. Winner takes it all in Week 18, as Pittsburgh welcomes the Baltimore Ravens to Acrisure Stadium for the divisional game that seals the AFC North title.

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The calls made by Arthur Smith in the final drive of the game have generated a lot of reactions online. A lot of fans are questioning why the offensive coordinator opted for Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball in all three situations instead of gaining yards on the ground.

Here's a look at some of the reactions online:

Aaron Rodgers calls out officials amid Arthur Smith’s questionable play-calls

While Arthur Smith is getting called out for his play calls in the final drive, Aaron Rodgers has his attention on the game officials.

The first two of those three throws made by Aaron Rodgers on the crucial final drive sailed nowhere near their mark. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was targeted on all three occasions, appeared to have run the wrong route not just once, but on back-to-back plays.

In his postgame press conference after Sunday’s game, Rodgers steered clear of throwing Valdes-Scantling under the bus for possibly running the wrong route in the critical goal-to-go sequence. The Steelers quarterback, however, didn’t hold back when addressing the officiating on that final fourth-down pass.

“That was definitely interference,” Rodgers said. “I’ll have to look at the film on second and third down.”

Aaron Rodgers tried to hit Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the corner of the end zone on that failed fourth-down pass. Still photos of the play clearly show Browns cornerback Denzel Ward grabbing and holding back the receiver’s left arm, but the officials didn't see much to that and didn't call a penalty.

Edited by Farouk Yusuf