The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to face the Cleveland Browns for Thursday Night Football in Week 12. Mike Tomlin's team has a chance to drive the final nail in the coffin of the Browns' season with a win.
While this division rival doesn't offer the same intrigue of a Steelers vs. Ravens game, as we saw in Week 11, there is one storyline that always seems to resurface in this matchup: T.J. Watt vs. Myles Garrett.
Watt and Garrett are All-Pro edge rushers who joined the NFL together as first-round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. Since the NFL honors ceremony in 2023, both players each have a Defensive Player of the Year award under their belt.
Watt expressed his frustration on 'X' after being snubbed of the award last season with a post that read, 'Nothing I'm not used to.'
On November 19, Garrett spoke with the Browns' media ahead of Thursday Night Football and was asked about Watt's negative reaction when he won the DPOY award last year.
"I've never complained about a trophy not being in my house and vice versa," Garrett said via Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot. " Shouldn't be feeling two ways about it going to me. I don't play against T.J. and he doesn't play against me."
#Browns Myles Garrett on #Steelers T.J. Watt’s negative reax on X last year when Garrett won #NFL Defensive Player of the Year: pic.twitter.com/kp1UufKUAF
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) November 19, 2024
Garrett smirked before giving his response, almost as if to say Watt was acting childish for being frustrated about not receiving the award.
The Browns star signed off with what seemed like a challenge for Watt.
"It's up for grabs this year," Garrett said. "We'll see the best man win.
T.J. Watt must let actions speak louder than words in Steelers vs. Browns game
After Myles Garrett seemed to take a subtle jab at T.J. Watt during the media session, you can bet Watt will be asked about Garrett's comments by the Steelers' media. Watt is a professional who almost always gives the right response to the media and rarely adds fuel to the fire.
But how he responds is irrelevant. He needs to let his actions speak on the field.
With the Steelers and Browns playing in primetime, this is another chance for football fans around the globe to assess, praise, and critique the performances of two of the best defensive players in the NFL. Regardless of the outcome of the game, how Watt and Garrett play will be a topic of conversation and could leave a lasting impression.
Though they are both perennial All-Pros in their own right, Watt and Garrett are very different football players. Garrett's absurd blend of strength and speed allows him to get pressure on the quarterback at a higher clip than Watt. However, the Steelers star has been the best edge defender in the NFL at creating splash plays since coming into the league.
Watt's play on the field has been quiet in recent weeks, but we know he's capable of exploding for a monster performance at any given moment. If he strings together a highlight-reel showing against Cleveland and outperforms Garrett, this could go a long way with Defensive Player of the Year voters this year.
At the end of the day, T.J. Watt vs. Myles Garrett is merely a sidequest that detracts from the main mission: to win football games. Regardless, it would be fun to watch Watt shut up the reigning DPOY with a stellar performance on Thursday Night Football.