The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns are one of the more heated rivalries in the NFL, especially ever since the Browns became slightly more competitive. Despite its atrocious record, the Browns always find a way to play close games with the Steelers. A rivalry within the rivalry is between TJ Watt and Myles Garrett, each team's star defender. It is a consensus opinion that the two are two of the best defensive players in the league, and the two fanbases are often arguing over who is better.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' TJ Watt hypes up his teammates before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024.
Watt and Garrett will always be compared to one another. They are both edge rushers and they were selected in the first round of the same NFL Draft -- and they both went to teams in the AFC North. The rivalry between the two was highlighted in 2023 when they were each finalists for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year Award, but Garrett won it, even though Watt had him beat in nearly every major statistical category.
Garrett spoke to the media on Thursday, where he made a strong statement about his case for the award during the 2024 season when he was asked if he is the best in the league.
"Yes," Garrett said. "Go check the tape. That's why."
Garrett walked off of his press conference after making this statement. It is clear whenever either of these players are asked about who is the best, they are thinking about the other player. They will forever be intertwined. Watt hasn't had his best season, but Garrett thinking he is the best defensive player in the league is laughable. He plays for a bottom-feeder and all he is has to play for at this point of the season is what numbers appear next to his name in the box score.
USATSI
Steelers' Russell Wilson gets sacked by Browns' Myles Garrett on Thursday Night Football during the 2024 season.
This isn't the first time during the 2024 season where Garrett has shown that he is a little overly cocky. Garrett went on national TV for a postgame interview after the Browns beat the Steelers earlier in the season, and he boasted about how he is the best defensive player in the NFL. The best players in the NFL don't typically brag while their team is 3-13.
Garrett has out-produced Watt in some areas during the 2024 season. He has 14 sacks on the year while Watt has just 11.5, but Watt also has double the amount of forced fumbles that Garrett does. Watt also has more tackles, pass break ups, and fumble recoveries. The two will always be close in production, but Watt has always proved that he just slightly better than Garrett, at least from a statistical standpoint.
Watt has been the favorite to win the NFL's DPOY Award throughout the 2024 season, but it will likely come down to Watt, Garrett, and Pat Surtain II as three of the finalists. Watt certainly has a case for the award, but it is certainly up in the air on who will be taking home the hardware.
Mike J. Terrill / AP Photo
Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt stands on stage at the 2021 NFL Honors Ceremony as he accepts the award for Defensive Player of the Year after a phenomenal season.
Steelers' TJ Watt Is Looking For His Second DPOY Award
Watt has only won the DPOY Award once, but he has been finalist for the award four times. He finished second in 2020 and 2023, and he finished third in 2019. He was obviously snubbed in 2023 when Garrett won, and he was arguably snubbed in 2020 as well when Aaron Donald won the award. Donald has even admitted that Watt was snubbed the year he won the award in 2020, which just proves that the NFL has some sort of weird vendetta against Watt.
It will be interesting to see how the voting goes for the award, but Watt is focused on team success at the moment. The Steelers clinched their playoff spot weeks ago, and the group will be looking to go on a run.
Do you think Watt will win the award again? Let us know in the comments below!
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