Minkah Fitzpatrick's defensive dominance Sunday is being recognized.
The Steelers safety is the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Fitzpatrick picked off Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow on their first possession of the game and ran it into the endzone to give the Steelers an early 7-0 lead.
On the field for every defensive snap, Fitzpatrick had 14 total tackles and saved the Steelers from losing the game after blocking an extra point attempt to send the game into overtime tied 20-20.
"Minkah is a complete player," said Steelers Defensive Captain Cam Heyward. "A lot of people sleep on Minkah and what he's capable of doing. Whether it's being a box safety or being a ball hawk or even blocking kicks. TJ and I were joking with him that he didn't have any blocked kicks. He got one today. He joined the club."
"I just went and got it," Fitzpatrick said. "My job is to go and get it. They didn't really put any hands on me so I was free and I just tried to get my hands on the ball."
"That's just when you got a good team," said Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin of why Fitzpatrick isn't an official captain. "You got guys that are deserving of that recognition, but you can't trot eight guys out there. Everybody respects that dude in terms of his talents and worth ethic and leadership."
"I'm proud of the way that we played," Fitzpatrick said.
"Everybody came together, everybody did their job, everybody fought even when they tied it up, we still fought and played hard. This is definitely what Steelers football is and this is what we should expect in the future."
Fitzpatrick's contract extension was well worth the price and it was only Week One.
