The box score will show the Pittsburgh Steelers having just one blocked kick in their Sunday night win over the New York Jets, and that accomplishment shouldn’t be understated. No one has more than the Steelers’ nine blocked punts and kicks since 2022. It’s just that they should have at least 10. Minkah Fitzpatrick’s extra point block was wiped out by a questionable “leverage” penalty against him, the refs believing Fitzpatrick used the Jets’ protect team to jump over and make his way into the kicking backfield.
Weighing in on the validity of the call and why there was a flag in the first place, former NFL ref and current rules analyst Gene Steratore understands that’s a snap judgment for any official to make.