Joey Porter Jr. Calls Out Referees After A.J. Brown’s Big Game

A.J. Brown torched the Steelers last Sunday, but one Pittsburgh cornerback believes the Eagles star did so with the referees on his side.

Brown led all pass-catchers in both receptions (eight) and yards (110) in the Week 15 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. The superstar receiver also reeled in one of Jalen Hurts’ two touchdown passes on the evening to help the Eagles notch a 27-13 win and improve to 12-2 on the season.

Joey Porter Jr. was one of the Steelers defensive backs who had a tough time containing Brown, who previously hadn’t racked up over 100 yards or caught a touchdown in a game since Week 12. But Porter believes his assignment was made more difficult by the officials giving Brown the benefit of the doubt.

“I mean, the refs let them push off,” Porter told reporters, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “At the end of the day, that’s what it is on the tape. (Brown is) just one of those guys who you know they aren’t going to call it.”

Porter and the Steelers can’t afford to dwell on possible oversights from the referees. Pittsburgh on Saturday will be in Baltimore for a crucial matchup with the Ravens, who are on their longtime rivals’ heels in the fight for first place in the AFC North.

It could be a long afternoon for the Steelers’ secondary, too, as Lamar Jackson enters Week 16 ranked second in the NFL in touchdown passes and fifth in passing yards.