The Pittsburgh Steelers suffered their first loss of the season, falling 27-24 to the Indianapolis Colts on the road. It was a disappointing defeat, especially given how the game started. The Steelers quickly found themselves down 17-0, but mounted a second half comeback.
In the third quarter, the Steelers' defense was trying to force the Colts off the field when quarterback Joe Flacco threw an off-target pass to Adonai Mitchell. Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, running full speed to contest the play, couldn’t slow down in time and collided with Mitchell. The officials called Fitzpatrick for unnecessary roughness, penalizing the Steelers 15 yards. This critical call extended the Colts' drive, leading to a touchdown that extended their lead to 24-10 instead of 17-10.
After the game, Fitzpatrick expressed his frustration with the call. Former Steelers great James Harrison also criticized the NFL, accusing them of cheating the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger, who was at the game, later shared his thoughts on the controversial call during his Monday podcast on Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
"We can’t get fined anymore, so I thought the Minkah hit on the sideline was an atrocious call. Minkah, you are exactly right. You play the game the right way. You care about player safety. You care about the rules and the integrity of the game."
Roethlisberger, a former teammate of Fitzpatrick, knows that Fitzpatrick had no intent to cause harm or endanger another player. He pointed out that the game has changed, with the NFL enforcing strict rules on defensive players, while offensive players aren’t held to the same standards.
Roethlisberger believed that disparity was evident in the controversial call.
"I thought that was a good hit. I thought he hit him with his shoulder and I don’t think he launched. I think if anything, Minkah kind of bounced off of him."
Roethlisberger didn’t hold back in his criticism, stating that he felt the call had a significant impact on the outcome of the game.
"That changed the game because that’s a huge play. It’s a shame that they don’t get that fixed. Minkah, good job playing the game and I’m sorry that happened to you."
The broadcasters and rules analyst Gene Steratore all agreed it was a bad call, but it wasn’t the sole reason the Steelers lost. The team underperformed throughout the first half, playing well below their potential. In fact, the Steelers benefited from a few early calls as well, so some might argue it balanced out.
Both can be true: the call was poor, but it wasn't the main reason for the loss. In the NFL, officiating is never perfect, and teams need to fight through adversity. The Steelers did just that, managing to give themselves a chance to win or tie the game on their final drive. Unfortunately, their hopes ended with a botched snap between Justin Fields and Zach Frazier.
Steelers' Defensive Players Are Struggling To Understand What The NFL Wants
Defensive players have become increasingly frustrated with the NFL’s rulings. In 2023, during a game against the Colts, Steelers safety Damontae Kazee was handed a season-long suspension for a hit on Michael Pittman Jr. Many argued Kazee had no other option and that the play unfairly punished the defender, who was simply trying to prevent Pittman from making the catch.
Kazee’s hit was unavoidable—he couldn’t physically adjust his body to prevent a dangerous collision, especially after a poorly thrown ball by Gardner Minshew II, which left Pittman exposed. Yet, Kazee was still suspended. This situation highlights the ongoing struggle defensive players face in understanding how to play within the rules without compromising their ability to make critical plays.
