The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of, if not, the best defensive player in all of football. Former first round pick, T.J. Watt is the reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year and not many teams have had an answer for him when he is on the field since 2017. He has played in just three games in 2022 and has 16 tackles, four passed defended and three QB hits and tackles for loss. The electric edge rusher also has two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. Despite his dominant nature and awesome Week 1 performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, left tackle for the most recent AFC Champions, La'el Collins, called Watt out for his attitude in their most recent battle.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle La'el Collins (#71) leaves the field after a Week 1 game against the Steelers after the line allowed seven sacks. | AP Photo
Before getting into Collins' interesting trash talk of Watt after the Bengals defeated the Steelers, 37-30 on Sunday, we should reminisce on the first game of the season. Cincinnati was heavily favored and Mike Tomlin and Teryl Austin's defense made it absolutely miserable for Joe Burrow. Watt, who was often lined up against Collins, had six tackles, three tackles for loss, two passes defended, a sack, interception and QB hit in what was an overtime victory. In other words, he dominated before tearing his pectoral muscle late in the fourth quarter.
In Week 11, Collins didn't control one of the NFL's best players as he seems to think he did. The linebacker had six total tackles, two passed defended, a QB hit and an interception along with a half of a sack. It is no secret that holding is a penalty offensive linemen have the tendency to get away with in today's NFL. Watt is one of the most held defensive players and rarely gets the benefit of the doubt. This was no different against the Bengals on Sunday.
Watt keeps being held all game, waiting to see an official actually throw a penatly for it!!!!!#HereWeGo #PITvsCIN pic.twitter.com/tAZF9SumKC
— Josh (@Konman81) November 20, 2022
Collins didn't seem to agree that he was illegally stopping the edge rusher.
"TJ [Watt] knew he had to line up against me,” Collins said in an attempt to stir the pot. “So, s*** you know, at the end of the day, he was crying to the refs. So, I’ll see him again next year."
Steelers' TJ Watt (#90) gets ready for his return to action against the New Orleans Saints during practice in Pittsburgh, PA before a Week 10 matchup at Acrisure Stadium in 2022. | Credit: Abigail Dean/Pittsburgh Steelers
Talked with La’el Collins about his performance against T.J Watt today.
— Mohammad Ahmad (@MohammadAhmadTV) November 21, 2022
How did Collins feel about his rematch?
“T-J knew he had to line up against me. So, s—, you know, at the end of the day, he was crying to the refs. (Laughter). So, I’ll see him again next year.”
Can one really blame Watt? Players complain nearly every play due to poor officiating, but the fact that Cincinnati's right tackle had the nerve to talk poorly about one of the NFL's best players after being manhandled in two games this year is pretty hilarious. If you dive into the former Wisconsin Badgers' history against the Bengals, it gets even funnier given the success he and the Steelers have had.
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher, TJ Watt (#90) participates in 2022 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. | Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO
According to Statmuse, Pittsburgh is 8-3 when taking on their divisional foe along with having Watt in the lineup since 2017. He has 42 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions against the Bengals. While this is Collins' first year in the division after spending six years with the Dallas Cowboys, he should have done a little more research before acting like his team has controlled the edge rusher in the past.
If there is anything that Steelers fans know about Watt, it is that he never backs down from a challenge and is consistently highly motivated. Whenever and wherever the two organizations play next, both players should be on the field in 2023 barring any injuries. One can certainly expect for Collins to potentially regret his words soon enough. After all, not many linemen have success halting Pittsburgh's best player from dominating.
What are your thoughts on the comments from Collins after Sunday's game? Let us know in the comments below!
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