Talk about a game for the birds. The New Orleans Saints stumbled out into a penalty-ridden start against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium, clawing their way back from a 10-0 deficit to tie the game at halftime, but the main topic of conversation was the flock of pigeons picking their way across the field.
Neither team’s pass defense was on top of its game — the Steelers were missing star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after a sudden case of appendicitis, while the Saints were down big free agent acquisition Marcus Maye with an injury — so the pigeons were able to make plenty of plays of their own through the air.
But, hey, we’ll take the entertainment and funny tweets over focusing on negatives like the Saints logging more penalty yards (40) than net yards gained on offense (32) in the first quarter. Here’s a quick look at some of the best reactions to the birds from fans and observers on Twitter:
The Pittsburgh Pigeons have the best seat in the house pic.twitter.com/GTkO9qg1tn
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 13, 2022
The amount of pigeons on the field is something pic.twitter.com/II2KjgUs7A
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) November 13, 2022
The pigeons are the most exciting part of this game.
— Chris Rosvoglou (@RosvoglouReport) November 13, 2022
Pigeons are absolutely unfazed in Pittsburgh
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) November 13, 2022
I'm not too far behind you, pigeons. https://t.co/EQkEbVD5zV
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) November 13, 2022
Not the casual whole ass flock of pigeons eating grass on the field
— Maddy Hudak (@MaddyHudak_94) November 13, 2022
It's like watching a pick-up game at the gym. When the teams are on one end of the field, the pigeons just shoot around on the opposite side. https://t.co/qsbqJWXwWU
— Ross Jackson (@RossJacksonNOLA) November 13, 2022
new homefield advantage idea: before a big opposing drive, sprinkle little bits of bread all over the parts of the field the other team will need to go through. pigeons could get a PBU on a deep ball or fluster a ballcarrier trying to run through the area https://t.co/U3WlY2QLa7
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 13, 2022
how many yards is a 'too many pigeons' penalty? pic.twitter.com/SicsdVYYTv
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022
They should let the pigeons coach the Saints.
— Jeff Asher (@Crimealytics) November 13, 2022
This game needs a Pigeon Cam @NFL
— Jono Barnes (@JonoBarnes) November 13, 2022
Those Pittsburgh Pigeons are the baddest in the land too https://t.co/2xTD42LkXe
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 13, 2022
Snowing pigeons right now. It's insane. https://t.co/j0htHV4vdW
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) November 13, 2022
Big day for the Pittsburgh pigeons.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) November 13, 2022
Pigeons picked up and moved to the endzone the Saints will be trying to get into. Should be safe for a while
— Balki Bartokomous (@wargote4) November 13, 2022
So far it's been about Pickens, Pickett, and pigeons in Pittsburgh.
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) November 13, 2022
Kenny Pickett: Aquaman but for pigeons ‘n’ at pic.twitter.com/qQ8l3SRt74
— Dave Dameshek (@Dameshek) November 13, 2022