Nothing about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ start to the 2025 season has gone according to plan, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The highest-paid unit in the NFL is getting gashed on the ground, is giving up 30+ points per game, and isn’t having nearly as much success rushing the passer as fans are used to.
That last point is drawing attention to T.J. Watt, the team’s highest-paid player. Watt’s start to the season has been abysmally slow. While he’s made a few impact plays, through two games, Watt has zero sacks. In fact, he hasn’t recorded a sack in his last six games and has only recorded a sack in five of his last 17 games.
There is undeniable shock at Watt’s poor start to the season. But, to some degree, the slow start is at least explainable, if not totally justifiable.
PFF provides excuse for Watt's slow start, but it only highlights Pittsburgh Steelers' bigger defensive issues
According to Pro Football Focus, Watt’s poor start doesn’t necessarily suggest that his talent level has dropped significantly. In reality, opposing offenses are showing him as much respect as ever. Only two players have faced more frequent double teams through the first two weeks of the season. Watt has faced a double team on 66.67% of snaps compared to 67.74% for Micah Parsons and 75.93% for Myles Garrett.
With such a large percentage of double teams being sent Watt’s way, it’s more excusable that he would struggle to get to the quarterback in time. He’s still managed to get through for three total pressures and two QB hits, according to PFF’s stats.
Still, Watt’s 66.8 PFF pass rushing grade makes sense when considering what Parsons and Garrett are doing despite the extra attention they’re getting. After all, both players have recorded sacks this season, unlike Watt. In fact, Garrett shares the league lead in sacks heading into Week 3 with 3.5.
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The most frustrating aspect about the natural comparisons that have to be made between these three players is that nothing has changed in the conversation. Why are they still successful while Watt is becoming less and less impactful? Because Parsons and Garrett don’t just line up on one side of the field. They attack from multiple angles across the game.
Even if you didn’t keep track of exactly where Watt lines up on every play, just look at the rushing charts from the past two weeks. Both the Jets and Seahawks ran to the left as often as possible to avoid running into Watt, because that’s where he lines up nearly every play.
The Steelers have allowed Watt to move around more this season, but it clearly isn’t enough to help him overcome the attention he’s receiving from blockers. If Watt can’t make an impact because the coaching staff won’t put him in a position to be successful, consider how that impacts the other 10 players on the defense. It begins to explain why the defense took a huge step back this season.