Daily News & Links: James Harrison Blames Officials for Colts Loss; Justin Fields Makes Steelers History

Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links from the Pittsburgh Steelers, NFL and around the Sports Now Group

🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison ripped the officials for the unnecessary roughness penalty called on free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. “Final score @NFLOfficiating @Colts win the game 24-27!” Harrison wrote on X.

“That call on Fitzpatrick is going to change the whole outcome of this game!” Harrison wrote in another tweet.

Fitzpatrick also expressed frustration about the penalty.

“I thought we were playing football,” Fitzpatrick said after the game. “I don’t know what we’re playing at this point. Very different game than what I grew up playing and what I grew up loving. Can’t hit nobody hard, can’t be violent. So I don’t know. I don’t know what to say anymore.”

Steelers strong safety DeShon Elliott called the penalty on Fitzpatrick “bullshit.” CBS Sports rule analyst Gene Steratore also disagreed with the call.

“They said he’s a defenseless player, and I hit him in the head,” Fitzpatrick said. “I don’t understand how he’s defenseless. If he’s going for the ball, I’m going to make a play on him or the ball. Just because he puts his arms down at the last second, [it] shouldn’t be a penalty. Didn’t hit him in the head either. But like I said, you hit people hard, and they throwing flags now.”

refs threw a flag on minkah for playing football 🤦‍♂️ #steelers pic.twitter.com/zjirjg31HB

— Chad Tyson (@chadtyson) September 29, 2024

🏈 Justin Fields is the first player in Steelers history with 300 passing yards, 50 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a game, per ESPN Stats & Info.

🏈 Colts head coach Shane Steichen has owned the Steelers in the last three meetings, dating back to when he was the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator.

Shane Steichen offenses vs. Pittsburgh:

2022 (Philly): 35 points, 401 yards
2023 (Indy): 30 points, 372 yards
2024 (Indy): 27 points, 358 yards

3-0 despite playing with a backup QB for most of those drives.

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) September 29, 2024

🏈 Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen took the blame for the defensive lapses in the loss to the Colts.

“It’s unacceptable on our part, starting with me,” Queen said. “I gotta do a better job of just getting [the calls] out to everybody. I’ll take the blame for all that stuff.”

🏈 Snoop Dogg will be in Pittsburgh next week for the Steelers-Cowboys game on Sunday Night Football, according to the NBC broadcast during the Ravens-Bills game. Snoop Dogg also did the Sunday Night Football intro for next week’s game.

🏈 The Steelers open as 1.5-point favorites against the Cowboys.

STEELERS NOW GAMEDAY COVERAGE

Steelers Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick Rips Penalty Call: ‘I Thought We Were Playing Football’

Broderick Jones Unleashes on Fans after Loss to Colts

Colts LB Rips Najee Harris after Pregame Gesture: ‘Kid Is Soft’

Justin Fields and Zach Frazier Reveal What Happened on Botched Snap

Mike Tomlin Calls Steelers Performance ‘Sloppy’ in Colts Loss

Steelers Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Colts 27-24

DB’s Steelers Dudes & Duds: Patterson, Harris Tell Tale of Two Backs

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan’s Daily: Penguins Go big with win; other side of Penguins trade.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Perrotto: This 76-86 season ends with a different vibe for Pirates.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt to host four-star junior prospect for visit.

West Virginia Sports Now: West Virginia’s Hudson Clement graded among top WRs.

Nittany Sports Now: Penn State-UCLA: 5 things to know about the Bruins.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Robert Morris women’s soccer turns up intensity to take down Purdue Fort-Wayne, 2-0.