After TJ Watt failed to win the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year award two years ago – despite 14.5 sacks, 14 other tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 8 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions and 6 other passes batten down – a lot of us wondered what he'll have to do to actually win the award.
In case you'd forgotten, Watt lost out to New England CB Stephon Gilmore in 2019. Gilmore had 6 interceptions, including 2 for touchdowns, and 14 other pass break-ups, an excellent season but it seemed Watt's was better. Apparently, the problem was – Gilmore's team went 12-4, Watt's 8-8. (Back to this a little later.)
Even last season, Watt was excellent with a league-leading 15 sacks in 15 games (he sat out the meaningless regular season finale) and 23 TFL but the problem was – guess who – Aaron Donald who won the award for a third time. That was kind of okay – even here - because, well, he's Aaron Donald.
Finally, this season, it appears Watt has had enough.
Through 10 games – and really 9-and-a-half since he was hurt early as he was dominating the Raiders – Watt has a league-leading 16 sacks, 16 TFL, forced 4 fumbles, recovered 2 of them and has knocked down 4 passes. With 5 games remaining, it's not inconceivable that Watt will get 7 sacks which would be enough to break Michael Strahan's record of 22.5. And it's unlikely he will be gifted his final sack the way Bret Favre turtled for Strahan.
But enough of the stats. Let's go to the testimonials.
First up, Ben Roethlisberger.
"I think TJ is seriously one of the best players I've even played against," began Ben, who is only limited to facing him in training camp practices and 7-shot drills. "I've played against some really good defensive guys. He truly is a special player. I'm glad I've never been sacked by him because he's not allowed to get close to me.
He is a game-changer and a game-wrecker. I've been a part of guys like that, Troy Polamalu, who can change a football game. It doesn't happen on defense that often. To be a literal game-changer on defense is something completely special."
Minkah Fitzpatrick, who knows a little something about being named All-Pro, said Watt was more than special against Baltimore with his career-high 3-and-a-half sacks plus other disruptive plays. "That's what he does, he's a game-breaker," Minkah said. "The energy he plays with, the passion he plays with, I wouldn't call it anger but when he's out there he's angry and that inspires everybody out there to play at that same level."
"He's definitely underpaid, for sure," Fitzpatrick laughed.
"Definitely deserves the DPOY. He's been robbed the last two years so hopefully he can get that this year."
Roethlisberger goes a step further. "I don't know who else is the Defensive Player of the Year (other) than that guy?" Ben gushed. "He should absolutely get MVP votes as well."
As you'd expect, Watt is grateful, but has his mind on the more immediate picture. "It's great to hear my teammates give compliments and stuff like that but like I said I'm so focused on the day-to-day" he shrugged.
:We have a game in two days. I'm just trying to get my body recovered and don't really have time to sit back and reflect on the season and (coming out of Covid protocol) I'm happier than ever that I don't have to sit back and reflect right now. We just gotta go go go."
There is no question Watt will keep going which, as Fitzpatrick mentioned, sets the tone for his teammates. He is clearly worthy.
But watch out because Dallas DB Trevon Diggs already has 9 interceptions and returned 2 for touchdowns. That's better than Gilmore in 2019 which means Watt's overdue honor is not a done deal.
But what? TJ worry? "This is such a day-to-day business and especially the older I get it's more day-to-day and the more I just want to win games more than anything," Watt said. "This season has been so up and down with how I've been performing, how the team's been performing."
Here is how the Steelers have been performing. They lost the 2 games Watt missed and went on to lose the Vegas game which got away after he was hurt. So they're 6-2-1 with him and 0-3 without him.
Sounds like an MVP to me.
