The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2023 season had its highs and lows, with a constant high being the effectiveness and domination of All-Pro outside linebacker, TJ Watt. Watt was a finalist for the NFL's Defensive Player Of The Year Award in 2023 for the fourth time in his career, while also being named a First Team All-Pro, as well as a Pro Bowler. He was notably snubbed for the award in 2020 when Aaron Donald won it, and he has been snubbed once again as the NFL gave the 2023 award to Myles Garrett.
Associated Press
Steelers' TJ Watt walks off the field in Week 7 with another splash play and victory.
Defensive Player of the Year is #Browns DE Myles Garrett #NFLHonors. pic.twitter.com/p0oyEEqDW0
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 9, 2024
Steelers' Watt Snubbed At NFL Honors Yet Again
Following the 2023 NFL season, Watt should be earning his third DPOY Award. However, due to being disrespected in 2020, and again in 2023, Watt is stuck with just his single victory from the 2021 NFL season.
Voting for AP Defensive Player of the Year (5-3-1 scoring):
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) February 9, 2024
Myles Garrett, Cleveland, 23-13-11=165
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh, 19-11-12=140
Micah Parsons, Dallas, 7-16-6=89
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas, 0-5-6=21
DaRon Bland, Dallas, 1-2-3=14
Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay, 0-2-1=7
Fred…
A big reason Garrett received so many votes was due to advanced statistics, which were mainly provided by Pro Football Focus. Garrett finished at the top of the charts when it came to categories like pass rush win-rate, double team rate, and overall grade as a pass rusher.
USA Today
Steelers left tackle Dan Moore Jr. (65) has been able to hold his own against Browns star Myles Garrett (95) in their meetings over the past few years.
Garrett may have finished at the top when it came to all the advanced metrics, however he did not finish ahead of Watt in a single stat that matters. Watt had an interception, Garrett had none. Watt had eight passes defensed, Garrett had three. Watt had four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, Garrett also had four forced fumbles but zero recoveries. Watt scored a touchdown in 2023, Garrett did not. Watt had 19 sacks and led the league, Garrett had 14.
The list goes on and on, for example: Watt had 68 combined tackles, Garrett had 42. Watt had 48 solo tackles, Garrett had 33. Watt had 20 tackle assists, Garrett had nine. Watt had 19 tackles for loss, Garrett had 17. Watt had 36 quarterback hits, Garrett had 30. To be fair to Garrett, he played one less game than Watt. Surely he would have tied all of these statistics up and had the best game of his career had he been healthy, right?
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt (90).
The only major and important statistical category that Garrett finished ahead of Watt in was penalties. Garrett finished the 2023 season with 13 penalties against him, all 13 of them either being offsides or neutral zone infractions. Watt had five penalties in 2023, two roughing the passer, two offsides, and one unsportsmanlike conduct. Two of Garrett's penalty came in the Cleveland Browns playoff game against the Houston Texans.
Both the Steelers and the Browns made the playoffs, with neither team being able to advance out of the first round. Watt was unable to play in the Steelers' game after suffering a knee injury in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens, but he nearly had the same stats as Garrett did in his playoff game. Garrett was nonexistent on the big stage, as he was only able to rack up three combined tackles and two offsides penalties.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers' TJ Watt missed the AFC Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills with a sprained MCL.
Advanced analytics and advanced statistics like pass rush win-rate, time it takes to get in the backfield, and everything else that is used in favor of Garrett are all stats that predict how well a player should produce. Therefore, if Garrett is at the top of all those categories, yet has less sacks, hits, and tackles for loss than Watt, isn't Garrett underperforming? Watt is over-performing?
Watt being disrespected by the NFL is nothing new. It was clear as day that he should be the DPOY for the 2023 season, yet he is snubbed yet again in favor of a player that produced much less than him.
What do you think of Watt being snubbed for DPOY? Let us know in the comments below!
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