The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. This almost feels like a game that the Steelers have to win as they are coming off of a two-game losing streak. The Raiders will be trotting out a rather inexperienced offensive group, and Pittsburgh's defense should be able to take advantage of that. The unit had three takeaways during the team's Week 5 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but they gave up the game-winning touchdown drive in the last minute of the game.
A big factor in Pittsburgh's defense controlling a game is star outside linebacker, TJ Watt. He has the potential to completely wreck a game every time he steps onto the field. He showed that in Week 5 with a forced fumble and a sack-and-a-half. Watt is obviously the focal point of every opposing team's offense. They need to find him and find a way to contain him on every snap. DJ Glaze, a right tackle for the Raiders, spoke to the media on Thursday about the upcoming matchup with Watt.
"Yeah I mean, great player, great rusher. We're going to do what we need to do to make sure we slow him down as much as possible. You know, just going in expecting a fight - he's going to throw his best, relentless player, he's going to mix things up, give me different moves and whatnot. So I'm just going to go and be disciplined, like I said, we have things in place to kind of slow him down when we need to."
This will be the sixth game the Steelers play this season, and it is also the sixth time the opposing team has said they have a plan for Watt. The only team it worked out for was the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4, as it was Watt's lone sack-less game of the season so far. The Atlanta Falcons specifically said they would not let Watt wreck the game, which is exactly what he did in Week 1.
Pittsburgh will be without two of their top three edge rushers on Sunday, so a ton of pressure will be put on Watt to make an impact. He will be lining up across from Glaze or Thayer Munford Jr. Munford was the starting right tackle for Las Vegas going into the season, but he is questionable going into Week 6. Munford was a seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, while Glaze is a rookie who was drafted in the third round in 2024.
Glaze has started the last two games in place of Munford, and it looks like he will be starting again against Pittsburgh if Munford can't return to full health. This should be a favorable matchup for the veteran outside linebacker, who will look to add to his career sack total which currently sits at 101.
Steelers' TJ Watt Needs To Take Advantage Of Inexperienced Right Tackle
Glaze has played decently, but he is clearly a rookie. Per Pro Football Focus, he has received an overall grade of 52.3 through his first two starts of his career. Throughout those starts the rookie has given up nine pressures and two sacks. Glaze has also committed three penalties so far, so Watt may be able to draw some holding calls as well.
Of course it won't just be the right tackle that is tasked with protecting the quarterback from Watt. Tight ends and running backs will be hitting the outside linebacker before releasing on their routes, just to give their right tackle some assistance. The potential for Watt to have a big game is there, however, and he usually performs in these scenarios when the pressure is on.
