Since the bye week, we haven't seen many splash plays from T.J. Watt. Some fans even went as far as to say that the Steelers star has been invisible over the past two weeks. It appears Watt had something to say to his critics.
In a must-have game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13, Watt made sure his presence didn't go unnoticed. On a play with under five minutes remaining in the second quarter, Watt was doubled on Joe Burrow's dropback.
However, the All-Pro defender was able to track down Burrow before scrambling across the line of scrimmage and raked the ball out of his hands for the strip-sack.
.@_TJWatt doing Watt he does best 💪
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) December 1, 2024
📲 Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/COxKRnr6Mc pic.twitter.com/GspaU8AFK4
This is the T.J. Watt we all know and love. The forced fumble by Watt resulted in a recovery for the Steelers -- ending another promising scoring drive for the Bengals.
Watt was the subject of criticism following Pittsburgh's Week 12 loss to the Browns on Thursday Night Football, as it was Myles Garrett who balled out in the AFC showdown; not Watt. Now the Steelers superstar is silencing doubters.
In the first half against Cincinnati, Pittsburgh had tremendous difficulty slowing down the Bengals' offense, but this play was the spark the defense needed. Watt's game-changing play doesn't make up for the missed penalty in the first quarter that resulted in a pick-six for the Bengals, but it helps.
T.J. Watt shows up like only he can
Just as fans were talking about Watt being invisible, he showed up in a way that only he can. The forced fumble gives Watt five on the season -- leading the NFL -- and 32 in his NFL career. Watt's career-high in this department for a season is eight, which he earned back in 2019. He will have a chance to go for the record with a few more plays like this.
With Watt drawing unprecedented attention from opposing offenses, his effectiveness as a pass-rusher has gone down, but he is still finding ways to be a difference-maker on the field.
Watt was the clear frontrunner for the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award entering Week 13, and his odds are only going to improve if he keeps making splash plays like this.