By: G.Stryker, Twitter @SNStryker and Instagram @SNStryker
SteelerNation.com
Every game is like a soap opera with a pivotal moment where victory is decided. Not always the game winning play, but a play that determines the outcome, and if it went differently, a different result could happen. So each week we will explore the exact moment of drama where the game pivots on: As the Game Turns.
Game changing plays usually occur later in games. It is rare for it to happen in the first quarter, let alone your opponent’s first drive, but that is exactly what happened last Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Pittsburgh Steelers enjoyed an 11-play opening drive that ended in a field goal. The Browns began their opening drive after the ensuing kickoff. Three plays later, their fate was sealed.
Steeler Nation had been relenting the fact that Minkah Fitzpatrick had been relatively quiet in producing splash plays this season. When Baker Mayfield dropped back to pass and threw to a fairly well covered receiver in an attempt to pick up a first down, he never saw Minkah playing the robber. Fitzpatrick read Mayfield’s eyes and stepped in front of the receiver as the pass arrived, then he returned it for his league leading 4th defensive TD since he entered the NFL in 2018. The score ballooned to 10-0, and the Browns never recovered.
Baker was harassed the rest of the game with 4 sacks and many other hard hits which caused his coach to pull him in the 3rd quarter just to preserve his health. The Browns would only manage 7 points the rest of the game while only converting one 3rd down in 12 chances, as well as going 0-3 on 4th down.
Minkah’s pick-6 was all the scoring the Steelers needed to assure victory, and hopefully it is the first of many big plays for Fitzpatrick in 2020.
Is Minkah back to his old self? Sound off in the comment section below!
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