The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New York Jets on Sunday Night Football, and it wasn't even close. They scored 31 unanswered points to blow out New York by a final score of 37-15. Every facet of the game was clicking, especially in the second half. However, it did not always seem like the contest would end up being an easy win for the Steelers, especially after a questionable call seemingly turned the tides away from them, even though the fans, commentators, and experts all saw something different than what the officials saw.
During his Tomlin Tuesdays press conference, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said that the league informed him about what happened on that questionable play.
"I did talk to New York, and they did tell me Minkah [Fitzpatrick]'s block was legal, which I knew in-stadium, but that's life. None of us are perfect. There's going to be mistakes made in-game. There are strategic mistakes made by guys like me; there's playing mistakes made by players, and there are officiating mistakes. The bottom line is if you're capable and you're on your job for 60 minutes, mistakes by others often don't define the outcome of games, but it is a shame because that was a significant play by Mink, and it did create a two-point scenario for them [the Jets] that could have changed the texture of how that game unfolded."
After scoring a touchdown to go up 13-6, the Jets tried to go for an extra point attempt, which was blocked by Minkah Fitzpatrick to keep it at that score. However, the officials ruled that he used the opponent to push himself forward and gain leverage, which negated the block. The Jets took the penalty to the one-yard line to try a two-point conversion, which they succeeded in. Instead of a seven or eight-point game, it suddenly became a two-score game for the Jets.
Luckily, the defense stepped up for the Steelers and did not allow a single point the rest of the game. That botched call had absolutely no effect on the game as the whole team woke up and dominated from that point on. The Jets had no answer as everyone played a significant role in the win. Rookies like Beanie Bishop Jr. and Payton Wilson had their breakout games, as they let the world know who they really are.
Ironically, the Steelers even managed to block a field goal attempt later in the game, where the entire middle of the defensive line was able to get their hands up. The kick was officially blocked by Dean Lowry, but if he didn't get it, someone else likely would have. The Steelers have made a name for themselves for blocking kicks, and they only reinforced that narrative with two of them, even if only one officially counted.
Steelers Are Used To Fitzpatrick Being Robbed On Blocks
In Week 4 of 2021, as the first half was winding down, Mason Crosby of the Green Bay Packers lined up to try a field goal. Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden got the perfect jump on the play and blocked the kick, which the star safety returned for a touchdown. However, Haden was wrongfully called for an offsides penalty, which negated the whole play and gave Crosby a chance to try it again. He nailed the kick the second time.
In the Jets game, it was only a two-point swing. In that Packers game, the game changed by 10 points, as the Steelers' touchdown was taken off the board and Green Bay was able to kick another field goal off of it. To make matters worse, Pittsburgh lost that game by 10, and that's not even factoring momentum into it. The Steelers had a perfect opportunity to bury the Packers, but the officials took it away from them.
