Imagine being hit with the book when you are completely innocent. Well, that is what happened with the Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He came under fire during the third quarter after being hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty.

However, the fire returned back to the NFL for their decision. And things even turned out to become worse when later, the association acknowledged that it was the WRONG call! And if you think that’s the end, then let us tell you that this is just the start of the story!

The incident left everyone talking. Late in the third quarter, with the Steelers closing the gap to just seven points, a penalty occurred that changed the whole vibe of the game. Minkah Fitzpatrick was flagged 15 yards for making contact with Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell on a second-and-10. That penalty proved costly, setting up the Colts to score a touchdown on the drive, helping them secure a 27-24 victory over Pittsburgh.

The not-so-fair penalty and the game left everyone disappointed and the HC Mike Tomlin said, “I didn’t like that call.” He also mentioned that he had a call with New York on Monday and they were also unhappy with the decision. Even Fitzpatrick shared he doesn’t know which game is he playing right now. The safety stated, “I thought we were playing football.” While the whole NFL reacted to it, the fans posted the referees favored the Colts.

Fans question the Steelers vs. Colts game

Soon fans took to their X account to post their dissatisfaction about the penalty. While one fan called the decision awful and mentioned the Steelers must have won the game with a lead, they wrote “Absolutely disgusting. Should be 4-0,”

Moreover, another user compared the referee’s decision to loot, calling it a clean-out. They wrote “An absolute robbery!” Now, that’s harsh! And that’s not all. Another fan called the referee’s decision one-sided and favored. They posted, “Colts were so heavily favored by the refs in that game.”

And as all of this wasn’t enough, an Internet user slammed the NFL for their wrong move. Disappointed with the loss, they expressed their frustration and wrote, sharing, “Pitt should be 4-0 man smh.” Even safety Deshon Elliott said, “He did nothing malicious. Didn’t even hit him in the head. Hit him right in the shoulder.” But what exactly was the pass?

While running as fast as he could toward Colts receiver Adonai Mitchell after an incomplete pass from Joe Flacco, Fitzpatrick collided with Mitchell. Though all of this happened in a second, Fitzpatrick managed not to lead with his head, but the collision still drew the flag. If anything, he let up. Sad, right?

While people taking sides with the referees and Fitzpatrick, the wrong penalty has sparked a huge debate online. While the NFL is a game full of sportsmanship, is it a violent game too? And how much violence is allowed still remains a question!