As many fans and NFL experts predicted, the Steelers fell flat against the Eagles in Week 15. Pittsburgh hasn't won a game in Philadelphia in 59 years and this drought will grow even longer after Mike Tomlin's team failed their task on Sunday.
There is no shortage of fingers to point for the despicable outcome. The game was much worse than the 27-13 score would indicate, as Russell Wilson and company managed a mere 163 yards of offense. Meanwhile, the defense's fatigue showed as Pittsburgh never got the ball back with over ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
But don't for a second point to T.J. Watt as part of the problem.
It's no surprise that Watt isn't putting up the same outrageous numbers we've been accustomed to seeing from him in years past. Watt has been the most frequently-chipped player in the NFL and teams are doing everything in their power to ensure he doesn't wreck the game.
After the Steelers' loss, Eagles future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson couldn't speak enough about how hard he had to focus to ensure Watt didn't 'destroy the game'. Johnson even added that Watt is 'probably the best' player he's ever gone up against.
If it looked like it was 'Watt against the Eagles' in Week 15, that's because, for the most part, it was. Watt's 88.7 grade from Pro Football Focus in Week 15 was in a tier of its own. The next highest player on the list was Alex Highsmith with a 72.4 grade.
The highest-graded Steelers in Week 15 vs the Eagles:
— PFF PIT Steelers (@PFF_Steelers) December 16, 2024
🥇 T.J. Watt - 88.7
🥈 Alex Highsmith - 72.4
🥉 Damontae Kazee - 70.0
🏅 Nick Herbig - 68.7
🏅 Calvin Austin III - 68.1
(min. 25 snaps) pic.twitter.com/tdUjBdQb2K
Watt's elite PFF grades shouldn't come as a big surprise after he recorded two sacks, chipped in five pressures, and added a forced fumble on Jalen Hurts that was recovered by the Steelers.
Watt even graded out higher than any player on the Eagles — the same team that humiliated the Steelers in this contest. Johnson, whom Watt primarily lined up against, recorded a 69.3 grade against Pittsburgh. This was the fourth-lowest mark of the season for the All-Pro right tackle.
Football fans need to stop pushing a narrative against T.J. Watt
There is a large group of fans on social media who seem to have a vendetta against T.J. Watt. Perhaps this is because of his dip in production this season, his lower-than-expect pass-rush win rate, or the fact that he's the Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner among an unspectacular group in 2024.
Whatever the reasoning, football fans need to give Watt his flowers. He's still an incredible football player having a strong 2024 campaign.
While new-age analytics help us better understand the game, we often place too much weight on things like pressure rates and hurries rather than tangible things that have a measurable impact on the game. There are players in the NFL who are faster and more consistent at generating pressure on the quarterback, but nobody is as lethal as Watt when he does meet the QB in the backfield.
This is evidenced by Watt's 11.5 sacks while leading the league with six forced fumbles and 18 tackles for a loss. Many of these numbers have resulted in drive-ending or game-altering plays for the Steelers in 2024.
Sure, it's possible that Watt could be slowing down ever so gradually. But we should also be aware of the unprecedented attention he has drawn and how he continues to create splash plays like nobody's business.
Entering Week 16, Watt's 92.6 overall PFF grade leads all active NFL edge rushers. His latest outing proves that he's still a force to be reckoned with. Fans need to stop spending so much time trying to tear down one of the best edge rushers of this generation.