First Call: Ben Roethlisberger says Baltimore TD should've counted; Minkah Fitzpatrick discusses return to Pittsburgh

Wednesday’s “First Call” has Ben Roethlisberger’s take on a controversy from the Steelers-Ravens game. We check in on Minkah Fitzpatrick prior to his return to Acrisure Stadium.

We know the officiating crew for the Steelers’ “Monday Night Football” game versus Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins. Plus, we preview a trip out west for the Duquesne Dukes.

Big Ben doesn’t like Likely call

During his weekly “Footbahlin’” podcast, Ben Roethlisberger expressed his opinion that Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely should’ve been awarded a score on that controversial touchdown that got overturned in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 27-22 win in Baltimore.

“I think it’s a touchdown,” Roethlisberger said at 23:19 of the video stream. “Here’s why. Three things have to happen. You have to possess the ball, you have to have two feet down, or a knee, a shin, whatever equals two (feet), and then make a football move. He catches the ball; obviously, he has possession of it, there’s no doubt about that. He has two feet down. There’s no doubt about that. The third foot would be a football move, or any kind of tuck, any kind of turn up, anything like that would be a football move. Did he make a football move? No, he didn’t make a football move.”

But while allowing that as the reason why the replay officials ruled the way that they did, Roethlisberger lobbied for a different interpretation based on where the catch took place.

“Because it’s the end zone, to me it just feels a little bit different,” Roethlisberger continued. “Because it’s in the end zone, that third football move needs to be considered differently because, when you’re in the end zone, you’re not going to necessarily make a big football move because you’ve already hit paydirt.”

As Roethlisberger added, had that play happened at the 30-yard line, the pass catcher would be inclined to make a more distinct football move (a tuck, a turn upfield, a twist to shed the defender) because there are more yards to gain. In the end zone, it’s just about taking a third step, which allows more time for a defender to make a play.

In theory, I agree with Roethlisberger. In general, I think there are way too many differences in the threshold of what counts for a score or a catch in the end zone/breaking the plane than there are elsewhere on the field.

Just look at the difference between what was acceptable for Aaron Rodgers to have “possession” and be down after his own batted-ball reception in that game, as opposed to what Likely had to do in the end zone. That’s incredibly inconsistent, and the league has yet to rectify that gap in logic.

The problem with what Ben said is that (while I agree with him in principle) there is no caveat in the rules. So, by the letter of the law (dumb as that law may be), I think the officials got that right based upon the Jesse James precedent that was set in 2017.

Which I’m sure Roethlisberger remembers all too well.

Minkah is mum

Minkah Fitzpatrick downplayed his return to Pittsburgh during an interview in advance of Monday night’s game between his Dolphins and the Steelers.

“The only reason why it’s a big week this week is because we’ve got a game and we’ve got to win it,” Fitzpatrick said.

???? Minkah Fitzpatrick on facing his former team: "The only reason why it's a big week this week it's because we got a game and we got to win it." (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/CevF5d7fiz

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) December 10, 2025

Fitzpatrick was originally drafted by the Dolphins in 2018. He requested a trade during his second season and was dealt to Pittsburgh early in the 2019 season. He became an All-Pro that season and attained that status twice more in Black and Gold.

Prior to this season, the Steelers traded him back to Miami for Jonnu Smith and Jalen Ramsey.

This year, Fitzpatrick is third on the team with 76 tackles (54 solo, three for a loss). He has an interception, a sack, a forced fumble, six passes broken up and two fumble recoveries.

Zebras for Dolphins

Via FootballZebras.com, the NFL officiating crew for “Monday Night Football” between the Steelers and Dolphins is known. It’ll be led by referee Land Clark.

According to NFLpenalties.com, that crew has worked 12 games. Only Shawn Hochuli’s crew has worked more. Yet Clark’s bunch has thrown just 129 penalties, second-fewest in the NFL. Brad Allen’s crew — which has worked only 10 games — is last at 105.

Miami has drawn only 70 flags this season. Only five teams have fewer. The Steelers have been hit for 73 penalties.

Both clubs have accumulated exactly the same yardage against themselves with flags at 577.

Related:

• Mike Tomlin's 'hot seat' response has more layers than you might think
• Tim Benz: If Kyle Schwarber bid signals dive into deep waters, Ben Cherington can't wear life vest

Bucking Broncos

The Duquesne basketball team is making a rare western road trip. The Dukes are at Boise State to face the Broncos Wednesday at 9 p.m. Then they play Nevada at 10 p.m. Saturday.

The Dukes are 6-3. Seven of their nine games have been at home. Only one of them, a loss at Villanova last month, was a true road game. They also lost on neutral court in Akron to Northeastern on Nov. 22.

Boise State is also 6-3. This is the first time these two schools have ever faced one another. The Broncos won 26 games last year. They lost to Colorado State in the Mountain West championship, then made it to the College Basketball Crown semifinals before falling to Nebraska.

As for Pitt and Robert Morris, both of those teams play on Saturday. After home losses to Texas A&M and Hofstra, the Panthers are at Villanova. RMU has a home game against Toledo.