NFL analyst believes T.J. Watt's DPOY chances were obliterated in Steelers loss

As we entered Thursday Night Football in Week 12, all eyes were on T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year (Watt) and the 2023 DPOY winner (Garrett) were going to battle it out in primetime with all eyes watching during the Steelers vs. Browns game.

Only it wasn't much of a battle. Watt was extremely quiet all night, while Garrett stole the show and helped Cleveland upset Pittsburgh.

As expected, the stark difference in performance between Watt and Garrett immediately sparked debate. Now Watt's DPOY chances could be on the line.

Kyle Brant of Good Morning Football believes Watt's chances of winning the most prestigious individual award for a defensive player just went out the window in the Steelers loss to the Browns on TNF.

“I think T.J. Watt definitively lost the Defensive Player of the Year," Brant said. "I don’t think he’ll win it now. I know how voters think in a national game like that. I think that’s over.”

Brand wasn't the only analyst feeling this way. After the game, Shannon Sharpe responded to Watt's comments with the old, 'You win some, you lose some' speech.

“If you play this game long enough, T.J., you’re gonna get robbed," Sharpe explained. "Everybody has been robbed. Somebody didn’t get an opportunity to go to the Pro Bowl that feels they should’ve been to the Pro Bowl. Somebody feels that they should’ve been an All-Pro, they didn’t get to go. Somebody feels they should’ve won an MVP, an Offensive Player of the Year, a Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, or something. If you play this game long enough and you’re a good player, you’re going to get robbed.”

This is the last thing Steelers fans want to hear after already being forced to stomach a disgraceful loss to the Cleveland Browns. But is it true? Are T.J. Watt's Defensive Player of the Year chances really obliterated?

Don't panic; T.J. Watt is still a strong DPOY candidate

I get the points made by both Brant and Sharpe. With the nation watching and Garrett so clearly outperforming Watt, that was a memorable moment that could impact the decision of NFL honors voters. But don't start believing that Watt no longer has a good chance to win the award.

With Garrett's stellar performance against the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, his odds of winning his second straight DPOY award skyrocketed from +3500 to +2000, courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Even with the three-sack showing, Garrett is a long shot to repeat this honor for the second straight year.

Surprisingly, Watt's odds of becoming the next DPOY remain unchanged. The four-time First-Team All-Pro sat at -200 odds before Thursday Night Football, and that is where he remains -- holding a convincing lead over Giants DT Dexter Lawrence (+1000) and Chiefs DL Chris Jones (+1000).

Watt's raw production is a shell of what it was last year when he earned 19.0 sacks and 36 QB hits. With 7.2 sacks in 11 games, the Steelers star will likely need a few big performances down the stretch in Pittsburgh's final seven games to solidify his DPOY chances.

We expect this to happen. Now in his 30s, Watt may have lost a step, but you can't keep a good player down for long. The odds suggest T.J. Watt is still the clear and obvious DPOY favorite in 2024, and until that changes, there's no reason to think Watt 'lost the Defensive Player of the Year award' already.