Steelers' Nightmare Fourth Down Call Against Texans Infuriated JJ Watt

The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled in 2023, and the Houston Texans offered the perfect opportunity to right the ship in Week 4. Not only did that not happen, the Texans trounced the Steelers in every aspect of the game. With JJ Watt in attendance to be honored by the Texans, he was horrified at a late fourth-down call that was the nail in Pittsburgh's coffin.

Steelers' Fourth Down Call Ended Game, Says Watt

Watt joined The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday to talk about what he saw in person during the Steelers Week 4 loss to the Texans. The NFL experience and football knowledge mean that Watt had a unique perspective on the situation.

There was no way that McAfee was going to talk about the Texans game and not mention the infamous fourth-down call that ended up hurting Kenny Pickett's knee. Facing a fourth-and-one in Houston territory in the third quarter of Sunday's game, everyone assumed that with Najee Harris finally remembering to run angry, this would be an easy play-call: run Harris and get the first down. Instead, Matt Canada had the Steelers in shotgun formation, and the play ended in failure and injury.

"Obviously, I was in that stadium watching that game, I could feel the momentum, I could feel everything with the game. And this is something that, not just with the Steelers, but with a bunch of teams that just gets at me, man! Fourth-and-one, you go into shotgun, and just -- like, oh my gosh!"

So, it wasn't only the fans who were perplexed when the Steelers lined up in shotgun formation for a short-yardage fourth down situation, Watt was as well bringing all his professional experience with him. This was not something anyone expected from a professional football team, and yet there it was, happening in horrible real-time.

"I was in that stadium, and you just knew at that moment, you were like, 'Oh, I mean, this is over.' That was your fourth-and-one play? This is crazy!"

Usually, when a coach like Tomlin goes for it on fourth down, it's cause for celebration because he actually did something risky and wasn't just aiming for a not-lose situation. This time, though, the football world winced as one.

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Didn't Think The Play Call Was Real

McAfee, as he was running through the replay of the fourth down call with Watt, said that former Steelers great Ben Roethlisberger was just as confused as anyone with the strategy - or lack thereof.

"Ben Roethlisberger said, 'I see them jog out there, and I go, oh, they're trying to draw them offsides.'"

It seemed that whatever NFL legend gave their opinion, it all boiled down to the same frustrations, with Roethlisberger not even believing the play would be run at all. McAfee ran through the situation with Watt, speaking from a defensive angle. When a team lines up in shotgun in that circumstance, with a running back like Harris having a positive game, the expectation is that you are being drawn offside. So, McAfee said with Watt agreeing, the defensive players prepare not to move, but then when the Steelers do actually snap the ball, it goes from patience to glee.

Watt recognized the kind of game Harris was having, especially since he was the only bright spot in the day. With a back having success, he figured you would use that to your advantage, or at least try for some sort of sneak, but none of those things happened.

"Najee, that was one of the best games Najee's played. He had a very good game; he's one of the only guys out there that had a great game. And, give him the ball! Or sneak it, or something! I mean, not only did you drop back to pass, not only did you take a long time to drop back to pass, you also got your quarterback hurt! Like, it was the culmination of a bunch of crap together! It's just not good."

That pretty much sums up that play call, and the resulting disaster that every single person in Pittsburgh is grateful didn't end worse for Pickett. It was embarrassing that Canada sank this offense to these levels, but now it's getting dangerous. At some point, somebody has to recognize that Canada isn't just incapable of putting together an NFL strategy; he can't protect franchise players. Incompetence is one thing, but recklessness is another altogether.

There is still one more week until the 2023 bye week, with the Baltimore Ravens on the schedule next, but if Canada is still with the Steelers following their bye week, you can consider 2023 sunk. Over the second half of 2022, somehow, the talent overcame Canada's lack of creativity and ability, but in 2023, that seems to be too much to ask.

Should Kenny Pickett play against the Ravens in Week 5? Click to comment below!

#SteelerNation