Though Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has played in two fewer games than Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, he has more tackles. And tackles for loss. And sacks. And forced fumbles. And fumble recoveries.
But Watt doesn't lead in every category. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the two are knotted for the lead in NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award odds at +300, with Cowboys rookie sensation Micah Parsons right behind them (+350) and perennial contender Aaron Donald looming (+750). Other sportsbooks, like BetMGM, have Garrett as the leader. According to Pro Football Focus ratings, Garrett is the top edge rusher in the league (92.1 overall grade) while Watt ranks at No. 4 at the position (88.6). And in Madden, one player took a rarely seen leap while the other sits in a lower tier.
On Thursday, EA Sports announced that Garrett was the newest member of their 99 Club, moving up from his 98 ranking and joining Aaron Donald, Davante Adams, Jalen Ramsey and Travis Kelce as the only five players in the NFL to enjoy the honor.
With a Week 14 performance that featured a sack and forced fumble on Tyler Huntley, which Garrett then recovered himself and returned for a touchdown, the bump up in rating was well-deserved. Watt, on the other hand, was ruled out of his Week 14 matchup against the Vikings at halftime after he suffered a groin injury. But even if he had turned in a similarly stellar performance, he would have needed a lot of work to get up to a 99, as he currently sits at "just" a 95 overall.
Don't tell Eric Ebron that, though. The Steelers tight end congratulated Garrett on his entry into the 99 Club in the most backhanded manner possible, suggesting that if he's a 99, Watt should be even higher:
Other Steelers are vouching for their teammate as well, including Alex Highsmith, who thinks "something's wrong" if Watt isn't the front runner for the Defensive Player of the Year nod.
With the AFC North largely up for grabs, with all four teams still in the running, the Browns and Steelers rivalry is as strong as ever. Adding in this battle for Defensive Player of the Year — and for Madden supremacy — makes it all the more fun.
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