Steelers Have 1 Specific Huge Defensive Advantage In Week 7 Against Jets

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in the NFL headlines for the majority of the 2024 calendar year. The bulk of the conversation has surrounded the quarterback position, but a thin wide receivers' room has also garnered a lot of attention. The team will head into a Week 7 game against the New York Jets with the hopes of beginning the season with a record of 5-2. Despite the Sunday Night Football game being at home, it will be no easy task as the Jets boast a respectable defense as well as a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers; not to mention, now, Davante Adams.

Leading up to the contest, many pundits will discuss the Steelers' expected decision to start Russell Wilson at quarterback rather than Justin Fields. What fans in the Steel City must realize is that Head Coach Mike Tomlin's way of winning is not by having an offensive juggernaut. That's why it will be crucial for Pittsburgh's defense to stand up tall to a new-and-improved Jets offense.

It's hard not to find a right tackle that Defensive Player of the Year favorite TJ Watt doesn't have an advantage over. That will be the case once again in Week 7, and the star defender may be in line for a monstrous game versus the Jets. Getting to Rodgers will be key, and a couple factors will play into Watt continuing his quest to be named the league's best defensive player for a second time.

The first clear advantage for Watt comes with his partner-in-crime, Alex Highsmith, who is expected to be back from injury after missing three games with a groin injury. Having Highsmith opposite of Watt will provide a boost that wasn't necessarily there in Week 6, with both Highsmith and Nick Herbig sidelined. Watt still had two impactful forced fumbles, but wasn't able to register a sack.

The next leg up that Watt has comes with his matchup. Morgan Moses is a familiar face for the Steelers, as he spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, working as the starting right tackle. Moses was unable to suit up for a game against Pittsburgh in 2023, but in the other three games during his time down in Baltimore, Watt was able to secure four total sacks.

Watt was also able to get to the quarterback in 2020 when going up against Moses and the then-Washington Redskins. In total, the edge rusher has five career sacks in four games going up against Moses as the right tackle. That should bode well for Watt on Sunday, as he has proven to have Moses' number in previous years and situations.

It will take a complete defensive effort to thwart the Jets' offense, but the first step will be not allowing Rodgers to get comfortable in the pocket. He is still coming off of a torn Achilles and making him move around could prove to be advantageous to the Steelers. That's exactly where Watt comes in, although, Highsmith will have his hands full with Tyron Smith, another likely future Hall of Famer, on the other side of the line.

Steelers Must Take Advantage Of Watt's Dominance Before It Is Too Late

Pittsburgh has yet to win a playoff game with Watt on the roster. It seems like a crime for the league's best defensive player to have never had the sweet taste of victory after a postseason contest. He has continued to prove that he is in the middle of his prime, and he will continue to do so throughout the 2024 campaign. The key for the franchise is finally taking the next step. No one wants to look back and regret the lack of playoff success with Watt on the team.

Do you think that Watt is in line for a massive game against the Jets and Moses? Let us know in the comments below!

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