Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher, TJ Watt was not pleased with the NFL during the 2023 season. After one game, he expressed frustration that he wasn't receiving the same kind of holding calls that other top pass rushers get. Watt even suggested that he felt the NFL had something against him. Despite this, he continued to dominate the league, leading in sacks with 19.
Despite his impressive performance, Watt was overlooked for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, which went to Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett, a rival of the Steelers. Although Garrett had fewer sacks, websites like Pro Football Focus highlighted his superior pressure rate and pass rush win rate, arguing he was the more dominant player.
This sparked a debate among Steelers, Browns, and NFL fans about who the better pass rusher is. While some argue Garrett is clearly superior, the competition between them is close, and both players study each other to improve.
Garrett recently revealed that he watches tape of several pass rushers around the league, including Watt. In an interview with Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Watt was asked how he felt knowing Garrett was studying his film.
"I'll take a compliment, I guess," Watt laughed telling Garafolo.
Garafolo jokingly suggested to Watt that it might be concerning that Garrett is studying his film to learn his secrets. Watt laughed it off, noting that it's not a concern since all players watch each other's film.
He mentioned that he watches a lot of pass rushers' film within the AFC North, as these players face offensive linemen that Watt also needs to be familiar with.
"We watch each other's film all the time and I watch a lot of Myles," Watt said to Garafolo. "I watch a lot of guys that are in the division just because there's so many guys that are able to get to the quarterback and we get to see them play against the opponents that we do as well."
The AFC North is considered the most competitive division in football heading into the 2024 season. Some analysts even suggest that all four teams have a realistic shot at making the postseason. While it's unlikely that all four teams will qualify, three AFC North teams did make the playoffs in the 2023 season.
PFF ranked Watt as the 14th best player in the NFL, while Garrett was ranked second. Although Watt might not admit it, this likely serves as extra motivation for him. He is expected to play with a chip on his shoulder in 2024, feeling that he was unfairly denied the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award for 2023. Watt continued to explain why he watches film from his rival pass rushers.
"So, it's kind of breaking down the tackle that we're going against, but you also are being able to admire and appreciate a guy that's able to get to the quarterback day in and day out."
While both Garrett and Watt are outstanding players, frustration arises among Watt and Steelers fans when some media pundits suggest there's a significant gap between the two.
In reality, Garrett and Watt are neck-and-neck as the top defensive players in the league. However, the rankings give the impression that Garrett is far ahead, which doesn't accurately reflect their performances.
Steelers' TJ Watt Playing With Extra Motivation In 2024
Watt had a dominant 2023 season, and he's likely to do so again in the upcoming year. If 19 sacks weren't enough to win him the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, he'll aim for over 20 in 2024.
It will be intriguing to see what kind of season Watt has in 2024. Many fans expect another career year, and if that happens, Watt will surely be in the DPOY conversation once more. Pundits consider him a favorite for the award, and he's motivated to rectify the perceived snub from 2023.
