Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick Gets Angry At Cam Heyward’s Four-Point Penalty, Then Gets Even With Ravens In 16-13 Victory

Watt returned after the bye against the New Orleans Saints and the defense improved. After dropping to 3-7 after surrendering 37 points to the Cincinnati Bengals, fans and the media were measuring the Steelers for a top-five draft pick and discussing if Kenny Pickett was a bust. The calendar has now flipped to 2023 and the Steelers have gone 6-2 since the bye. At 8-8, they are just three steps away from the NFL postseason.

The defense has not allowed more than 17 points since Thanksgiving. In the modern NFL, that is a dominant performance no matter who your opponents are on Sunday. When they needed it most, the defense gave up a total of 3 points in two consecutive crucial second half performances. The Steelers have spent a lot of money on defense, and the last two games, it has been money well spent.

Cam Heyward gave the Ravens four points just before the half with a questionable personal foul and the incensed Heyward got into a sideline confrontation with star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. The two were separated and it seemed like a little more than frustration spilling over, but the defense responded to the emotion in the second half:

“I got caught up,” Heyward told Rodney Harrison after the game. “I got pulled down and it looks like I hit the ref. I was going down and I kept my hands up. In the moment, Mink was mad at me. We were able to regroup at halftime, swallow our pride and just keep going.”

After falling behind 13-3 early in the second half, the defensive stars went to work. The Steelers gave up a big run to J.K. Dobbins after narrowing the gap to 13-6 on the ensuing first down, but stiffened quickly with Watt finally getting home against Tyler Huntley and holding the Ravens to a punt. The offense took advantage and gave the Steelers defense a break with a 13-play, 80-yard drive for another field goal to pull them to 13-9.

The next time the defense touched the field was a huge stand. The special teams gave up a huge return that set the Ravens up in Justin Tucker field goal range on first down. After losing two yards on three plays, John Harbaugh opted to punt rather than try a 59-yard field goal. It was a decision he may have wanted back after what transpired a few minutes later.

The Ravens held the Steelers to a punt with just over 6 minutes remaining and the black and gold defense had to rise to the occasion after a great Pressley Harvin punt. On third and two, Heyward made up for his mistake early in the game and stopped Dobbins for no gain. After a three and out set up the rookie Pickett for another clutch game-winning drive, the defense, after allowing 13 points in two and a half quarters had held the Ravens offense to 10 plays over three drives.

The Steelers defense wasn’t out of the woods, with under a minute to play and the best kicker in NFL history prowling the other sideline, they needed one more stop. After picking up a first down on a short pass to Mark Andrews with :20 seconds to go at the Ravens’ 38-yard line, Baltimore seemed to get a huge break when Andrews stood up and Fitzpatrick knocked the ball from his hands. The referee crew decided he was giving himself up and ruled that the Ravens would retain the ball.

Fitzpatrick and the Steelers were denied a turnover on the questionable call and the Ravens only needed about 15 yards to give Tucker a shot to tie the score. The season was on the line and the feeling of dread in Steeler Nation on the second chance was real. The second highest paid safety in the NFL wasn’t having it. When Huntley dropped back and looked for Demarcus Robinson, Fitzpatrick, one of the NFL’s best ball hawks, put the game away with his fifth interception of the season.

A lot of things still have to go right for the Steelers to make one of the most improbable runs to the playoffs in recent history. Pittsburgh has found a winning formula and no matter what happens next week, it is clear that Mike Tomlin, who has come under heavy fire this season, has found the recipe to keep the black and gold in the mix.