With the weather in Cleveland expected to be very inclement, the 49ers will likely lean heavily on the run game as they aim to move to 9-4 by beating the Browns.
Steelers' WR DK Metcalf Hears Strong Criticism From Hall Of Fame QB: 'Not Sure He Fits Perfectly'
Posted November 30, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers got the NFL's new league year off to an aggressive start when General Manager Omar Khan made the decision to trade for DK Metcalf. The big-play threat was supposed to bring a new level of dynamic to the offense, but it hasn't gone perfectly for the majority of the 2025 campaign. Entering Week 13, the wideout had 42 catches for 573 yards and five receiving touchdowns. It will be fascinating to see just how involved he will be for the remainder of the year, as the team will need him to step up in a big way if winning the AFC North is going to be possible with a tough schedule.
While the division is up for grabs and Steelers still have to play the Baltimore Ravens twice, the franchise's players and coaching staff haven't exactly done enough to gain the trust of the fan base. There have been some overwhelming inconsistencies that are glaring week-in and week-out. Championship-caliber groups often never get too high or too low, and that simply hasn't been the case in the Steel City.
Prior to the league's Sunday slate in Week 13, the NFL GameDay Morning crew on NFL Network talked a little bit about the state of the Steelers. Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was asked what Pittsburgh has to do to become elite, and he was far from convinced that the organization could get there. Metcalf also took some heat for how he fits within the offense.
"To be an elite team, there's gotta be something you do that's elite," Warner said. "When you look at this offense, there is nothing that you can, you know, hang your hat on, point your finger at and say, 'This is how we are going to beat you.' Their run game is 27th in the league. Their pass game is 23rd in the league. We've talked about it for a number of weeks, just the weapons on the outside. Yes, you have DK Metcalf, but I'm not sure he fits perfectly with what they have to do throwing the football."
Many believed that Aaron Rodgers would be enough to seriously utilize Metcalf and help the wide receiver reach another level. That hasn't occurred as hoped, which has led to Khan and co. receiving plenty of criticism for trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys back in May. The Steelers will need a strong final six games from Metcalf if the offense plans to take another step.
Another point of Warner's that should generate some concern is that there really is no true answer for the team to become elite. Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and that trend appears to be set to continue if the offense doesn't get its stuff together. On top of that, the defense hasn't been strong either. Both sides of the ball have had their respective issues.
There is still time for everyone to get on the same page, but no one is going to be convinced that the Steelers are contenders in the AFC until several good performances are stacked on top of one another. One thing is for sure, and that is that when a Hall of Fame quarterback casts serious doubt on an offense, that unit has several issues that it needs to figure out how to fix.
Steelers Hoping Metcalf Starts To Earn His Expensive Paychex Consistently
It has been an up-and-down first season in Pittsburgh for Metcalf. The pass-catcher is making an average of $30 million per year and expected to be a top target in the Steel City for years to come. It has been underwhelming in 2025, but it is not singularly his fault. The scheme has not been strong on a weekly basis, and he does not have a lot of help around him in the receivers' room.
McCaffrey’s Historic Chase Continues as 49ers Face Browns in Week 13
Christian McCaffrey has the chance to surpass a Hall of Famer in the 49ers’ Week 13 clash.
That’s good news for Christian McCaffrey, who can expect to receive an even greater share of the offensive touches than he consistently gets as the focal point of the 49er attack.
With throwing the ball potentially difficult, the 49ers facing Myles Garrett, and Brock Purdy coming off a three-interception showing on Monday, McCaffrey will almost certainly receive a huge amount of carries and lots of targets on short passes.
As such, McCaffrey is in an excellent position to write another page in the history books in a remarkable season for the running back.
McCaffrey has 10 games with at least five receptions and 100 scrimmage yards this season, the most in the league.
He has 53 for his career and, with another such effort against Cleveland, will tie Marshall Faulk for the most games with five receptions and 100 scrimmage yards by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history.
In addition, McCaffrey is tied for the second-most games with at least 50 receiving yards by a running back in league history. He can break the tie with Faulk on Sunday and move just four games behind Larry Centers (55).
McCaffrey’s outstanding talents as a runner and receiver have kept the 49ers in the thick of the playoff race. He is on course for a second season with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards and, considering the weather and the pass-rushing strength of the opponent, a strong performance that sees McCaffrey add another historic achievement to his outstanding resume will be even more important than usual.
