Tag: T.J. Watt

Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt takes high road in feud with Myles Garrett

Pittsburgh Steelers star defender T.J. Watt isn’t stooping to Myles Garrett’s pompous level.

Steelers fans know that T.J. Watt doesn’t just let his stats do the talking—he lets his game roar. But after Thursday’s showdown with the Browns, some are itching for Watt to fire back at Myles Garrett. And honestly, does Watt need to?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 talk show host Joe Starkey said this morning on the Joe Starkey Show:

In this game, [Garrett] talked the talk and then he backed it up, and he was the best player on the field. I actually like that there’s something brewing, and I wish T.J. would pipe back. I do. I wish he would snap up into the conversation here. If you’re T.J., come back. Or, don’t go on social media when he wins the award and basically say something basically passive-aggressively, ‘I’m used to it.’ You want to talk and snap back and say you’re the guy, then say it. You want to play the role of I don’t talk like that, I don’t do stuff like that, then do that. Be one or the other.

Starkey suggests that Watt should jump into the conversation, snapping back to assert himself as the league’s top defensive force. But here’s the thing: Watt doesn’t need to talk the talk—he’s been walking it for years. With 104 career sacks and countless game-changing plays, Watt’s resume is already in elite company. He’s in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation every season, and his work ethic and consistency speak louder than any trash talk ever could.

That said, a part of Steelers Nation might appreciate a little more fire. Garrett’s game was stellar, no doubt, but it’s always frustrating when the narrative shifts after one standout performance. Watt could easily remind everyone who’s been the real force to reckon with in the AFC North. A well-timed, confident clap-back could energize fans and keep the rivalry alive.

Still, Watt staying classy has its own power. He doesn’t need to play into the noise; he lets his highlights speak for him. Whether it’s strip-sacks, quarterback pressures, or anchoring the Steelers’ defense, Watt’s actions are more impactful than any social media jab could ever be.

Bottom line? Garrett may have won the day, but Watt is the gold standard. Let’s not forget that rivalries are settled on the field—and Watt will undoubtedly get his next chance to remind everyone why he’s the guy.

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Insider: Steelers must do ‘something a little different’ with T.J. Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin needs to be willing to move T.J. Watt around more to be more impactful.

Two of the best defenders in the game took the field for “Thursday Night Football” in Cleveland, but only one came away with a dominant performance.

Unfortunately, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (3 sacks) and not their own T.J. Watt.

Sacks down for Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt in 2024

This season has been something of a sack drought by Watt standards. He’s no stranger to multi-sack weeks on the regular, but this season, there’s been only one: Week 8 vs. the New York Giants. Watt has just one sack in three games after failing to take down Jameis Winston in Week 12.

Today on 93.7 “The Fan Morning Show,” Steelers insider Mark Kaboly suggested something needs to change:

I don’t know how much [T.J. Watt] wants to [move around]. I think partially it has to do with him. He just likes coming from…I mean you remember his rookie year, he was on the other side, didn’t really like it. They flipped him and Bud Dupree and then all of a sudden he took off. But at this point, you’re gonna have to do something a little different. I guarantee if you ask Teryl Austin, he’d be like, ‘Oh we move him around.’ Yeah, you move him around two or three times a game, if that.

According to PFF Ultimate (subscription), two or three times a game is an overestimation. Watt’s position pivot breaks down like this:

  • Left end outside (LEO): 404 snaps
  • Left OLB: 222 snaps
  • Right outside (REO): 6 snaps – vs. New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens
  • Right OLB: 1 snap – vs. Indianapolis Colts

The only time Watt hasn’t reached double-digit sacks was his rookie season and 2022, when a pectoral injury sidelined him for half the season.

Why T.J. Watt doesn’t see holding calls

Watt often seems like the NFL’s most held player without the flags to show for it. Despite his elite status and relentless ability to disrupt opposing offenses, holding penalties against players blocking Watt are few and far between.

Why? Part of the issue lies in Watt’s unmatched explosiveness and technique. He moves so quickly and with such precision that it’s hard for referees to spot infractions in real-time. Additionally, Watt’s motor never stops—he powers through holds that might incapacitate lesser players, which can make the infractions appear less blatant. Critics argue this lack of calls stems from a larger league-wide issue of inconsistent officiating when protecting superstar edge rushers.

Offensive coaches have also learned exactly how to neutralize Watt’s impact: Double-teams, chip blocks and quick throws.

As Kaboly wrote in an October 3 column for “The Pat McAfee Show:”

Over the span, Watt is tied for 10th in the league with 18 holding calls drawn by a defender. Last year’s defensive player of the year Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, who was drafted the same year as Watt and has played in roughly the same amount of games, is on top of that list with 24.

Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin could only say holding happens, and nothing can be done about it.

The great pass rushers get held. You know, T.J. is going to get held every week, and they’re going to hold him this week, and they might not get it. There’s nothing we can do about that. We just go play our business. We just try to play ball and let whoever is in charge of the refs take care of that.

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Will T.J. Watt rebound against Bengals after dull Week 12 performance?

T.J. Watt will aim to rebound in Week 13 as the Steelers face the Bengals after his lackluster showing against Cleveland in Week 12.

Week 13’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals is beginning to look like a layup for T.J. Watt to stage a bounce-back game after his poor performance last Thursday against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12.

While 2024 has highlighted Watt’s ability to defy the hands of time, the 30-year-old edge rusher is coming off his worst statistical game of the season. In Week 12 against Cleveland, Watt failed to record a single QB hit or sack and managed to hurry Browns QB Jameis Winston on just two occasions.

However, Watt’s proven track record against the Cincinnati Bengals should excite fans for what the former 2021 Defensive Player of the Year has in store for Week 13.

Watt is averaging nearly one sack per game against the Bengals and has recorded at least half a sack in every matchup with Cincinnati since 2021.

The 8-3 Pittsburgh Steelers will heavily depend on Watt’s elite pass-rushing abilities to pressure Cincinnati’s outstanding offense, led by prolific QB Joe Burrow. Fans can look forward to the action in Week 13, on December 1st at 1:00 PM EST.

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Myles Garrett puts T.J. Watt on notice after loss

Myles Garrett did not hold back in his post-game interview.

It was tough to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers’ performance against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night again. What should have been a win for the Steelers turned into a debacle of the highest order. One of the highlights was supposed to be the showdown between Browns EDGE Myles Garrett and Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt.

The showdown ended up being completely lopsided as Garrett dominated the Steelers offensive front and Watt was largely a non-factor. After the game, Garrett called out Watt bigtime after the game and put him on notice that he feels like he’s the No. 1 and everyone else, including Watt is chasing him.

 

That’s a pretty bitter pill to swallow for Steelers fans but there’s no denying how well Garrett played and how little an impact Watt had.

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Browns’ Myles Garrett discusses T.J Watt’s 2023 D.P.O.Y. snub

Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, NFL, Week 12, Thursday Night Football, Defensive Player of the Year, American football, Timely, Sports news

Be careful what you wish Cleveland!  While to many it seems unwise to provoke T.J. Watt just days before facing off against him, that is exactly what the Browns did. Speaking to reporters during Tuesday’s media availability, the 2023 D.P.O.Y. award winner, Myles Garrett, was asked to comment on Watt’s less-than-enthusiastic reaction to being snubbed from winning the award after a spectacular performance last season.

Garrett, known for his issues with Pittsburgh in the past, wasted no time taking a subtle jab at Watt, stating, “I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house, and vice versa. He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me.”

Watt’s league-leading 19 sacks should have been more than enough to secure the award in 2023, but one thing the Browns’ edge rusher said rings true: T.J. will have every opportunity this week, when his team takes on Cleveland, to silence the doubters once again.

Garrett’s comments and challenge to Watt will surely only lead to Cleveland’s demise in Week 12, as the Steelers take on the Browns in this week’s Thursday Night Football game at 8:15 PM EST.

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Jared Verse and two other superstars are the only NFL players to accomplish this in 2024

Jared Verse and two other Defensive Player of the Year candidates are the only players in the NFL who can say they’ve done this

Jared Verse isn’t going to win Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie this season, but he’s off to an unbelievable start with the Los Angeles Rams – a start that has him in the company of two legitimate contenders for the coveted award.

Through 10 games, Verse has 4.5 sacks, 42 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss and 14 quarterback hits, stuffing the stat sheet just about each and every week. Pro Football Focus has graded him highly throughout the year, ranking him as one of the better defenders in the league.

According to PFF, there are only three players in the NFL this season with grades of 80 or better as a pass rusher and run defender: Verse, T.J. Watt and Dexter Lawrence.

Verse has a pass-rush grade of 82.0 and a run-defense grade of 85.5, which rank 21st and 14th, respectively, among all defenders with at least 382 snaps.

Watt is the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Lawrence is tied for the third-best odds at BetMGM. Verse predictably isn’t even in the conversation because he’s a rookie who hasn’t racked up enough sacks for legitimate consideration, but he’s as well-rounded a defender as there is right now.

The Rams had high expectations for Verse when they drafted him 19th overall this year, but he’s been even better than anticipated through 10 games so far.

In a couple of seasons, he could be one of the top candidates to win Defensive Player of the Year the way Aaron Donald was early in his career.

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Ravens fall to 7-4 as offense sputters in 18-16 loss to Steelers in Week 11

Lamar Jackson will have to wait a few weeks to get that much-needed win over the Steelers after the Ravens sputtered in neutral for most of the afternoon in an 18-16 loss to Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium.

The NFL’s No. 1 ranked quarterback in QBR, Jackson was 16-33 passing for 207 yards (6.3 avg), one touchdown, one interception, and a 66.1 rating, the lowest of this season.

Jackson had four carries for 46 yards, while Derrick Henry was held to 65 yards (5.0 avg) on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown, tying the single-season franchise record for touchdowns.

Zach Orr’s maligned defense held Pittsburgh to 4-16 on third downs and 303 total yards, but Pittsburgh held the football for 36:22, compared to Baltimore’s 23:38.

The Steelers held the Ravens ‘ top-ranked offense to 329 yards and just 124 yards rushing. Justin Tucker’s two missed field goals will further magnify the two-point loss. On the day, Tucker was 1-3 on field goal attempts, while Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was a perfect 6-6, including a 57-yard field goal.

Baltimore will quickly regroup before a massive Monday night matchup against Jim Harbaugh and the 6-3 Los Angeles Chargers.

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Ravens’ biggest X-factor player for Week 11 matchup with Steelers

Roger Rosengarten is Ravens biggest X-Factor in game vs. Steelers

Baltimore and Pittsburgh are set to meet on Sunday in one of the weekend’s biggest games. In one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries, 26 of the last 32 Ravens-Steelers games have been one-score affairs, including the past eight contests.

Since John Harbaugh’s first season as head coach in 2008, 18 Ravens-Steelers games have been decided by three or fewer points.

Sunday’s matchup should be no different, and the game’s biggest and most crucial matchup will feature Steelers All-Pro pass rusher matching up against Ravens rookie right tackle Roger Rosengarten.

Watt ranks among the top 8 active players in sacks (5th), tackles for loss (8th), QB hits (4th), forced fumbles (2nd), fumble recoveries (4th) and strip sacks (2nd). Watt’s 19.0 sacks led the NFL in 2023. He is the first player in League history to lead the NFL in sacks three times (2020, 2021 and 2023).

Since allowing a sack to the Chiefs’ Chris Jones on his first snap, Rosengarten has allowed just two more sacks in his 278 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. He’s coming off one of the season’s highest pass protection grades against the Bengals on Thursday night.

Rosengarten won’t indeed be a Raven until he defeats the Steelers, and Sunday offers that first opportunity.

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Did Cam Heyward discover the fountain of youth?

Cam Heyward’s elite 2024 play has been pivotal for the Steelers’ defense, proving age is just a number for the veteran DT.

Cam Heyward has either perfected time travel, discovered the fountain of youth, or is doing his greatest Benjamin Button impersonation in 2024, as the Steelers’ DT continues to turn back the clock with his elite play at 35 years old.

With an impressive five sacks, 14 QB hits, six tackles for loss, and a whopping 31 QB pressures, PFF considers Heyward the best defensive lineman of 2024 so far.

Throughout Heyward’s illustrious 14-year career, the Steelers’ DT has accumulated 85.5 sacks, 127 TFLs, 193 QB hits, and eight forced fumbles.

Heyward’s play in 2024 has been a pivotal factor in not only the team’s fourth-ranked defense against the run but also the overall success of the 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers.

While teammate T.J. Watt is considered a favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award, Heyward is looking more and more like a dark horse candidate with each passing week.

Heyward will face a tough challenge in Week 11 as he and the Steelers take on the 7-3 Baltimore Ravens on November 17th at 1:00 PM EST.

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Russell Wilson describes his decision to sign with Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson credits a shared vision with Coach Tomlin and meetings with Steelers stars for his decision to join Pittsburgh in 2024.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, and QB Russell Wilson didn’t miss his chance to join the Pittsburgh Steelers after his exit from Denver, ultimately driven by a shared vision with Pittsburgh. Wilson sat down with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and discussed his decision-making process in choosing to come to the Steel City.

Wilson described several prominent Steelers players who made sales pitches during the 2024 offseason, including fellow Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner Cam Heyward, fellow Wisconsin alumnus T.J. Watt, and former All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick.

While playing with such elite talent seems like an offer too good to pass up, Wilson stated that his decision to sign with Pittsburgh stemmed from a shared vision with the team’s philosophy, including a similar football belief system: “I think Coach Tomlin and I share the same vision, love for the game, passion behind it, and obsession with it.”

While the success in the early chapters of the 2024 season can be credited to QB Justin Fields, no one can deny that Wilson helped make the Pittsburgh Steelers potential Super Bowl contenders.

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