Steelers' TJ Watt And Alex Highsmith Having A Big Game Is Crucial For A Win On TNF According To Andrew Whitworth

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a crucial matchup with the Tennessee Titans coming up on Thursday Night Football on a short week. Pittsburgh lost in uninspiring fashion to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon, 20-10, dropping their record to 4-3. The team sits second in the division, according to NFL.com, and would be the sixth seed if the playoffs started tomorrow. They remain tied record-wise with the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, while the Baltimore Ravens are first at 6-2. To gain some separation, the team will need to stack some wins, and a former All-Pro offensive tackle says the key to starting that is a big game from their vaunted pass rushers on Thursday. 

Four-time Pro Bowl tackle Andrew Whitworth played 11 seasons with the Bengals before jumping to the Los Angeles Rams where he won a Super Bowl in 2021. He is in his second season doing broadcast work for Amazon on Thursday Night Football. He joined The Cook and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan on Tuesday morning to chat about the upcoming AFC clash. He said one of the biggest keys to the Steelers having success in the contest will be a banner day from pass rushers Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt. 

"It’s going to be a huge key," he said in response to a question from Bob Pompeani about getting pressure. "The tackles have struggled a bit for the Titans at times in pass pro this season. The good news for the Steelers is they have two of the best there is at the edge right now rushing the passer."

Watt and Highsmith have combined for 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits this season through seven games. The pair will be counted on to make life very difficult for Titans' rookie quarterback Will Levis, who is expected to make his second career start. Whitworth called Watt, the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year, one of the best of his era, and said that he and Highsmith are going to have to make their presence felt on Thursday night for Pittsburgh to have a successful outing. 

Steelers' Chance To Avenge Earlier Season Loss To A Rookie Quarterback 

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has had plenty of success against rookie quarterbacks since he took over in 2007. He sits tied for second in wins against novice signal-callers since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, with Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh with 23 wins. Only Bill Belichick has more with 25.

Tomlin and the Steelers lost to CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans in Week 4 and failed to register a sack. Highsmith had three quarterback hits and Watt got one, but Stroud's effectiveness in getting the ball away quickly to his receivers seemingly neutralized the pair as Pittsburgh struggled. 

Pompeani said he watched a bunch of Levis's debut against the Atlanta Falcons and the key to his successful day was the lack of pressure from the Falcons. He threw for 238 yards and four scores with a long bomb of 61 yards. He was only sacked twice. If Pittsburgh wants to avenge their earlier loss to a rookie quarterback, pressuring him will be key. 

With a young quarterback, Whitworth said it's important to create pressure so that their confidence gets a little shaken up and they start second-guessing themselves. He added that with a heavy dose of pressure, a young quarterback can start to have cloudy vision when looking downfield. 

If Pittsburgh is going to keep themselves in position to stay in the wild AFC playoff race, they need to ensure that Levis doesn't have the time to dice up their secondary, especially with star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick out with a hamstring injury. It's not on Watt and Highsmith exclusively, others will need to contribute, but there's a reason why both of them have been paid on the contracts they've received. 

Do you think Watt and Highsmith are in for a big game on Thursday? How do you think Levis will fare against the Steelers? Comment below!

#SteelerNation