Tag: Minkah Fitzpatrick

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Lamar Jackson will have to wait a few weeks to get that much-needed win over the Steelers after the Ravens sputtered in neutral for most of the afternoon in an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL’s No. 1 ranked quarterback in QBR, Jackson was 16-33 passing for 207 yards (6.3 avg), one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.1 rating, the lowest of this season.

Jackson had four carries for 46 yards, while Derrick Henry was held to 65 yards (5.0 avg) on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown, tying the single-season franchise record for touchdowns.

Zach Orr’s maligned defense held Pittsburgh to 4-16 on third downs and 303 total yards, but Pittsburgh held the football for 36:22, compared to Baltimore’s 23:38.

The Steelers held the Ravens ‘ top-ranked offense to 329 yards and just 124 yards rushing. Justin Tucker’s two missed field goals will further magnify the two-point loss. On the day, Tucker was 1-3 on field goal attempts, while Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was a perfect 6-6, including a 57-yard field goal.

Baltimore will quickly regroup before a massive Monday night matchup against Jim Harbaugh and the 6-3 Los Angeles Chargers.

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Steelers FS Minkah Fitzpatrick discusses his lack of splash plays

In 2024, Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t produced with splash plays, but his impact remains critical for the Steelers’ strong 7-2 start.

Steelers’ All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been lacking some of his ‘FitzMagic’ to start the 2024 season, but if you ask him, it isn’t due to a lack of effort or execution.

The Pittsburgh Steelers safety has recorded 20 interceptions and three defensive touchdowns since 2019. Fans of the Steel City have been eagerly awaiting the return of Fitzpatrick’s elite playmaking ability to create turnovers and splash plays in 2024, but through nine games, there’s been nothing to show for it in terms of interceptions.

However, he has still displayed elite zone coverage, pass breakups, and run-stopping excellence. It seems Fitzpatrick isn’t overly concerned about the pressure to produce turnovers this season.

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With the Pittsburgh Steelers off to an impressive 7-2 start in 2024, Fitzpatrick’s words ring true. His elite play has deterred quarterbacks from throwing to his side of the field, and he will aim to maintain his dominant coverage heading into the Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on November 17 at 1:00 PM EST.

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Russell Wilson describes his decision to sign with Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson credits a shared vision with Coach Tomlin and meetings with Steelers stars for his decision to join Pittsburgh in 2024.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and QB Russell Wilson didn’t miss his chance to join the Pittsburgh Steelers after his exit from Denver, ultimately driven by a shared vision with Pittsburgh. Wilson sat down with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and discussed his decision-making process in choosing to come to the Steel City.

Wilson described several prominent Steelers players who made sales pitches during the 2024 offseason, including fellow Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Cam Heyward, fellow Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt, and former All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick.

While playing with such elite talent seems like an offer too good to pass up, Wilson stated that his decision to sign with Pittsburgh stemmed from a shared vision with the team’s philosophy, including a similar football belief system: “I think Coach Tomlin and I share the same vision, love for the game, passion behind it, and obsession with it.”

While the success in the early chapters of the 2024 season can be credited to QB Justin Fields, no one can deny that Wilson helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers potential Super Bowl contenders.

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Sorry, Baltimore: The Steelers didn’t want Diontae Johnson for good reason

While Baltimore may be excited to acquire Diontae Johnson from Carolina, the former Steelers WR carries a lot of baggage as well.

Memo to Ravens fans: Be careful what you wish for. While the Steel City faithful appreciate wide receiver Diontae Johnson’s efforts as an elite route-runner for Pittsburgh from 2019-2023, fans will be quick to remind Baltimore exactly why he was traded away to Carolina last offseason. 

Johnson struggled with making routine catches early in his career and bore more than his fair share of blame for drama in the Steel City, ranging from lack of effort on multiple plays to heated arguments with Steelers players and coaches. 

On a crucial play last season against the Cincinnati Bengals, running back Jaylen Warren fumbled the football, and Johnson seemingly walked away from the opportunity to recover it. His initial response left much to be desired: “I’m not perfect.” 

Johnson was also involved in a heated locker room argument with free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after the safety took issue with Johnson’s treatment of the coaches on the sideline. 

Johnson was traded this week to the Baltimore Ravens from the Carolina Panthers, and he has certainly circled his new team’s Week 11 and Week 16 matchups with Pittsburgh.

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Steelers’ legendary QB gives his opinion on the team MVP in 2024 

Former Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger stated on Tuesday that he believes Pittsburgh’s current MVP is Special Teams Coach Danny Smith.

After winning two Super Bowls with two different head coaches, Steelers’ legendary QB Ben Roethlisberger is a solid judge of quality coaching ability. On this week’s episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Steelers’ QB stated that one man, and one man alone, is Pittsburgh’s MVP this season—Special Teams Coach Danny Smith. 

Smith’s unit has presented a masterclass in special teams coverage, from blocked field goals to excellent punt returns. Smith was visibly upset over a botched call against an impressive special teams effort made by FS Minkah Fitzpatrick on Week 7’s Sunday Night Football, but his demeanor quickly shifted to excitement later that night as the team successfully blocked a field goal in their win over the New York Jets. 

Roethlisberger is mostly taking this opportunity to give the Steelers’ coach his flowers, but Smith’s special teams unit has truly been a spectacle for fans this season.  

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Steelers’ safety is ranked 1st by PFF in run defense

Steelers’ safety DeShon Elliott has been great through seven games of football. PFF has recognized him as the best run defending safety.

Pro Football Focus has decided to give Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott his flowers. The former Raven was acquired in free agency by Pittsburgh during the 2024 offseason and has made his presence felt immediately. While Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t had his usual success this season, struggling to record any splash plays, Elliott has played at an elite level thus far. 

PFF has an interesting reputation in Pittsburgh, as the polarizing grades of Steelers players have sometimes left a lot to be desired. However, Elliott is currently being graded by the organization as the best safety in the 2024 NFL season against the run. 

While many were aware of the talent Elliott possessed, no one could have truly predicted the impact the Pittsburgh strong safety would make when he signed his two-year, $6.0 million dollar contract back in March.

Elliott is a key component to this Steelers’ defense and why it has played at such an elite level in 2024, and will look to continue his dominance against the run when his team takes on the NY Giants in Monday Night Football, on October 28th at 8:15 PM EST.

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NFL admits mistake on penalty against Steelers on Sunday night

Mike Tomlin got his apology from the NFL on a blown call.

The most outstanding part of Sunday night’s blowout win by the Pittsburgh Steelers might have been the play of their special teams. Pittsburgh blocked two kicks, although the one by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was negated by a penalty. The officials said Fitzpatrick used players for leverage to go up and over the line of scrimmage.

It only took one look at the replay to see that was a bad call. Fitzpatrick vaulted the line of scrimmage and barely made contact with anyone on his way to the football. On Tuesday when head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media, he said the league notified him and he got an apology for the missed call.

 

Fortunately, this blown call had no significant impact on the outcome of the game. The Steelers beat the Jets handily 37-15 to improve to 5-2 on the season.

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AFC North rival expecting 4x Pro Bowler to return in Week 7

The Cleveland Browns expect their star RB Nick Chubb to return from injury in Week 7. How will this impact Pittsburgh moving forward?

One of Pittsburgh’s AFC North rivals is growing more formidable, as the Cleveland Browns expect star RB Nick Chubb to return from injury in Week 7.

Just over 13 months ago, Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick delivered a touchdown-saving hit on Chubb. What seemed like a routine stop for Pittsburgh’s hard-hitting defense turned into a nightmare as Chubb was carted off the field in visible pain.

Upon review, the injury occurred as Chubb fought off a tackle from Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb for extra yards. Fitzpatrick, assisting in the stop, went low, leading to severe damage to Chubb’s MCL, ACL, and meniscus in his left knee.

The injury was devastating for Browns fans, and while rivalry runs deep, there’s respect for Chubb’s grueling 13-month rehab to return to the field.


Will the Steelers’ AFC North rival’s star player be 100% after such an awful knee injury?  Only time will tell, but the future matchups between Pittsburgh and Cleveland have certainly grown in difficulty for the Steelers.

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Former 1st-round Steelers’ safety reuniting with Pittsburgh

The Steelers are bringing back Terrell Edmunds.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing their former safety, Terrell Edmunds, off the Jaguars practice squad, per Tom Peliserro on Monday.

Edmunds started 75 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2018 to 2022.  The former first-round pick from the 2018 draft didn’t necessarily live up to first-round draft status.  However, he was a reliable starter opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick nonetheless.

The former Steelers’ safety left Pittsburgh in the 2023 offseason to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles.  His consistency was lacking and he bounced around to the Titans and Jaguars, until eventually coming back to Pittsburgh.

Terrell Edmunds joins his former teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick, along with a new face in DeShon Elliot, who made his impact felt on Sunday against Atlanta, and the reliable veteran Damontae Kazee, to form perhaps the strongest safety room in the league.

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Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick drops to No. 79 on NFL Top 100

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s career has been a rollercoaster since joining the Steelers.

Minkah Fitzpatrick’s career has been a rollercoaster since joining the Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems that every season, Fitzpatrick has an All-Pro season only to follow it up with a down year. After checking in at No. 18 on the 2023 NFL Network Top 100 players list, Fitzpatrick took a big tumble on this year’s version.

On a list voted on by fellow NFL players, Fitzpatrick checked in at No. 79. Keep in mind, Fitzpatrick wasn’t even ranked on the 2022 list before shooting all the way up to No. 18 the following year.

For Fitzpatrick, his ranking is directly related to how the Steelers utilize him on defense.

In years when Fitzpatrick is allowed to play off the ball and make plays in the passing game, he’s able to really showcase his skills and have a real impact on the defense. In other seasons, when you see his production dip, he’s relegated to being a run-stuffer who puts up lots of tackles and nothing else.

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