DB’s Steelers Film Room: T.J. Watt Looks Like DPOY Again

Derrick Bell's Pittsburgh Steelers Film Room: T.J. Watt looks like a potential Defensive Player of the Year winner after Week 1.

Derrick Bell |

Updated: Sep 11, 2024

As if this is a surprise, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt looked like the best player on the planet this past Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, helping slow down an opposing offense that was generating quite a bit of buzz entering the year. It was a game in which he totaled a game-sealing sack, several pressures on Kirk Cousins and a couple of run stops for good measure. While his jaw-dropping performances have become the norm, it’s worth taking a peak behind the curtain of this one to see what makes the four-time All Pro such a special player.

SN analyst Derrick Bell breaks down the star pass rushers season debut, detailing all of the different ways that he was able to affect the game, sometimes in a manner that didn’t show up in the final box score. Most have high expectations for the Pittsburgh defense this season and rightfully so, with much of that optimism surrounding Watt’s consistently impactful player up front. If he continues on this type of trajectory for yet another season, you can guarantee his name will be thrown into Defensive Player of the Year conversations once again. After week one, it’s clear that he should be the odds on favorite.

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