Steelers' TJ Watt DPOY Chances Are Uncertain After Week 12 Loss

It wasn't a pretty game for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they lost to the Cleveland Browns 24-19 on Thursday Night Football. After a five game winning streak where things were looking really positive for the Steelers, it got snapped on a snowy field in Cleveland. Leading up to the Week 12 matchup, TJ Watt and Myles Garrett shared a few words about each other in individual interviews. Both have been amazing defensive players for their respective teams, but there has been an unwritten rivalry between them created by the fans and media. When each season comes to a close, Watt and Garrett are usually in the conversation for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Watt has won the award once in 2021 and has been a finalist four times. 

Last year, Garrett won his one and only DPOY Award, but Watt believed he got snubbed as he led in stats that arguably mattered more in a game. Watt started off the season strong and recorded one sack during each of the first three games. With Watt continuing to be a game wrecker and the Steelers winning, Watt still had the best odds to win DPOY through Week 11. However, the past few games Watt has been quiet. Kyle Brandt of Good Morning Football argued that Watt's chances of DPOY have gone away after the Browns loss.

"I think TJ Watt definitively lost the Defensive Player of the Year," Brandt said. "I don't think he'll win that now. I know how voters think in a national game like that. I think that's over."

Before Week 12's matchup, Watt was just above Garrett in sacks with 7.5 to Garrett's 7. Watt had a chance to prove he was the better player in a head-to-head matchup, but Garrett ended up taking control of the game. Garrett recorded three sacks and five total tackles whereas Watt had no sacks and four total tackles. Garrett was clearly the bigger game wrecker and he let the Steelers and the NFL world know it in his postgame interview.

That comment may be enough to wake Watt up, but teams have been starting to figure out Watt more than recently. Watt has been getting double teamed at the line or chipped when the ball's snapped. Watt has continued to stuff running backs in the back field like he did with Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry in Week 11. Back through Week 8 of this season, Watt was getting chipped on 31.6% of his pass-rush snaps, which was the most in the NFL. The Steelers didn't help Watt last night either as they didn't move him around as much to try and get around the chip block. The Browns did move around Garrett on quite a few snaps and he was able to get through to Russell Wilson.

Watt still has six games left to prove on the field he's still one of the best defensive players in the league. His impact is huge on the Steelers as when he gets hurt and doesn't play, the Steelers are 1-10 without him. There's no denying Watt is one of the best in the NFL, but the Steelers will need to help him schematically if teams continue to try and stop him so he can be a game disruptor again.

Steelers' Alex Highsmith Could Return Week 13

More help could be on the way for the Steelers as Alex Highsmith may have a chance to come back for Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Highsmith got hurt during Week 10 against the Washington Commanders in what appeared to be a scary ankle injury. It was a scary injury as it looked worse than it was, but a report came out a few days later stating Highsmith would likely miss just two games.

Highsmith has been a huge contributor as an edge rusher and has stepped in when Watt would get double teamed or chipped on the other side. Nick Herbig and Preston Smith have also been huge in making plays in Highsmith's absence. It'll be important to keep an eye on injury reports leading up to the Bengals game to see if Highsmith will be good to go or not. With a tough six remaining games left in the season, the Steelers will need to be at full strength on both sides of the ball.

Do you think Watt still has a chance at DPOY? Let us know in the comments below!

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