Steelers' TJ Watt Is Serious Victim Of NFL Statisticians' Bias According To His Brother JJ Watt

Pittsburgh Steelers' star linebacker, TJ Watt is having an insane 2023 season, but a recent sack controversy has left fans and even his brother, JJ Watt, perplexed. The incident in question occurred during the Steelers' embarrassing defeat to the Arizona Cardinals where a seemingly legitimate sack by TJ was later credited as a half-sack between him and Alex Highsmith.

Sack Statistic Shenanigans

During the third quarter of the game against the Cardinals, TJ showcased his exceptional skills by forcing Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to the ground. It appeared to be a clear sack, a testament to TJ's remarkable ability to disrupt opponents' offensive plays. However, what followed left many scratching their heads as the NFL statisticians initially credited TJ with the sack, but then promptly revoked it, labeling it as a shared half-sack between TJ and Highsmith.

JJ, a football luminary in his own right, joined The Pat McAfee Show to shed light on the perplexing world of NFL sack statistics. When asked about the process of statisticians determining sack credits and how it unfolds, JJ provided insights into the intricate scoring system.

"The statisticians watching the game score the play however they score it, whether it's a sack or a half-sack. Generally, it's the first guy to hit him, and if two guys hit at the same time, it's going to be a half-sack. If one guy hits him first and the other guy was going to join, then clearly, that first guy gets it. In a situation like it was this Sunday, when the quarterback was going down, it becomes the first player to touch him that gets the sack. It's literally how it's always been."

JJ also highlighted the existence of a team in New York responsible for real-time evaluations of plays and the subsequent adjustments to statistics. He recounted his own experience of witnessing TJ's sack initially credited as a full sack, only to be later downgraded to a half sack. 

"I am watching the game from the CBS studios. I see TJ get the sack and say, 'Yes, that’s a full sack.' I look at the stats, it’s a full sack. And then a quarter later, I go back just to see how many tackles he's got, and it’s changed to a half-sack. I am like, 'What the?' Because this happened in an earlier game; he had a half sack that he was given, and it got taken away. And when you are in a situation where you are at the top of the board and you are possibly going to be the NFL leader in it, or you could set records, I mean he got one taken away when he was going to break the record in the Baltimore Ravens game, the last game of the season. He should have broken the record, and they took it away from him, so."

TJ Watt's Frustration And Sack Race Implications

It's evident that this isn't the first time such sack discrepancies have affected TJ, which JJ believes, might explain his recent frustration. In a postgame presser following the Steelers' loss to the Cardinals, TJ expressed his sentiments about the situation.

"Yup. I don't know, the NFL has something going against me, so I don't want to talk any more negatively towards them. I don't know what I did, but I'll leave it at that."

Currently, TJ sits in second place in the race for the NFL's 2023 sack leader title, with 14 sacks to his name. Leading the race is Los Angeles Chargers star Khalil Mack, with 15 sacks. JJ emphasized the significance of these statistics, especially when it comes to securing one's legacy as the sack leader. In 2023, TJ has been a force to be reckoned with, averaging over a sack per game, three forced fumbles, and one interception.

Steelers’ TJ Watt Facing Human Error Or Legit Bias?

While it remains uncertain whether the NFL statisticians made an honest mistake in their assessment of the sack during the Cardinals game, or if there might be a hint of bias at play, one thing is clear, TJ is more fired up than ever. As the Steelers gear up to face the New England Patriots, quarterback Bailey Zappe might find himself with sleepless nights leading up to Thursday, knowing the relentless force that awaits him on the field.

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