Minkah Fitzpatrick’s ball-hawking plays have returned for Steelers
For the second consecutive Sunday, the final player to touch the ball during a Pittsburgh Steelers game was Minkah Fitzpatrick.
This week, the All Pro safety got his hands on it a couple of other times, too.
Just another day in the Steelers life of Fitzpatrick, who has 10 takeaways (interceptions or fumble recoveries) in 22 games since arriving via a trade in September 2019.
Including a fumble recovery during his final game with the Miami Dolphins last year, Fitzpatrick’s 11 takeaways are the most in the NFL over the past two seasons. Adding three forced fumbles, Fitzpatrick has 14 such plays in 24 games.
During Sunday’s 24-19 win at the Dallas Cowboys, Fitzpatrick “caught” a popped-out CeeDee Lamb fumble late in the first half, and he intercepted a Garrett Gilbert pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter.
Who else but Minkah Fitzpatrick?! #HereWeGo @minkfitz_21
?: #PITvsDAL on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/LhAplcRHXB pic.twitter.com/5TIWIJGT6o— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2020
What’s his secret?
“I think just reading the keys, being able to be in the right position, knowing what the offense is trying to do,” Fitzpatrick said in a video conference call with media after the game. “Everyone says, ‘Be in the right spot,’ (but) it’s more than that.
“I could be anywhere on the field (but plays won’t happen) if I’m not looking for the right keys, if my teammates aren’t doing the right things around me. But if everyone is doing their part, everyone has good eyes and just being where you’re supposed to be, plays are going to happen.”
The plays that Fitzpatrick made breaking up passes in the Steelers’ end zones at the end of each of the past two games won’t be credited as takeaways but they obviously were notable moments in the victories at the Baltimore Ravens and Cowboys. A completed pass in ether situation means the Steelers lose.
Sunday, it was a throw from Gilbert intended for Lamb; last week it was Lamar Jackson’s heave to Willie Snead.
Through four games this season, Fitzpatrick did not have an interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery or pass defended. Over the past four games, he has a combined eight such plays.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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