DK Metcalf just made a huge mistake in Lions game that could cost Steelers dearly

DK Metcalf has had a solid enough first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers since being traded there by the Seattle Seahawks this offseason. He was meant to be a perfect complement to Aaron Rodgers' passing game, adding another dimension to a Steelers offense that has struggled to piece together any explosiveness.

Metcalf was a huge focal point in the first half of the Steelers' game against the Detroit Lions in Week 16, but for all the wrong reasons. The wideout suddenly began going viral thanks to an unfortunate confrontation he appeared to have with a Lions fan holding a Steelers jersey at Ford Field.

Per Tracy Wolfson of CBS Sports, Metcalf and the fan exchanged words prior to him throwing a punch at the fan's face. It's unclear what was said, but it wasn't noticed by referees during the contest. He remained in the game, but both Jim Nantz and Tony Romo commented on how it was very likely that the league will take action against Metcalf after this game.

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Metcalf is always a dangerous addition to any defensive game planning thanks to his strength and speed, so there might've been a few Lions fans hoping that the referees would end up pulling Metcalf out of the contest altogether in order to get some sort of advantage on the Steelers. Of course, there's nothing they could've retroactively done.

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Detroit fans are known to get loud and rowdy at these home games, and this contest was no different. With postseason hopes on the line, the crowd was loud on basically every single defensive possession. It was making it difficult for Pittsburgh's offense to get set earlier in the 2nd quarter, which is around when Metcalf threw this punch.

If Metcalf gets suspended for the Steelers' Week 17 contest against the Cleveland Browns, that's a big deal. It's a significant contest against an AFC North opponent, and winning against the Browns would help extend Pittsburgh's current division lead against the Baltimore Ravens. Losing Metcalf as a weapon is bad news for Rodgers and the Steelers, especially against an elite Browns defense.