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Steelers OLB T.J. Watt is No Longer the Clear Favorite to Win NFL DPOY
Pittsburgh Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt is still the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year with -115 odds, but Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II is gaining ground (+150), according to the latest odds posted by sportsbettingdime.com.
Surtain held Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase to three catches for 27 yards on six targets in last Saturday’s 30-24 loss. Surtain lined up across from Chase on 43 coverage snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
With the standout performance against the best receiver in the game, Surtain jumped from +386 odds to win DPOY to +150, significantly narrowing the gap between him and Watt, whose odds worsened to -115.
Watt suffered a left low ankle sprain late in the team’s Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He did not return to the game, and had X-rays that revealed no fracture. He’s been active for the last two games, but he hasn’t recorded a sack and has been rather quiet overall.
It appears that the combination of Watt’s ankle and thumb injury has significantly hindered his ability to rush the passer.
Prior to Week 15, Watt was the clear front-runner for NFL DPOY with -190 odds, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Surtain and Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney were tied for the second-best odds at +1400. Houston Texans edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. followed at +2000 and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett rounded out the top 6 at +2200.
In addition to his league-best six forced fumbles, Watt enters Week 18 with 61 tackles (40 solos), 11.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, 27 quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries. Out of Watt’s five forced fumbles, three were strip sacks.
If Watt wins another DPOY award, he’ll join Steelers legend Joe Greene as the only players in franchise history to win the prestigious award twice.
The one thing missing from Watt’s accolades is a Super Bowl title or even playoff success. He’s never won a playoff game in his career. That’s something he wants to change. He doesn’t want be known for just his long list of individual accomplishments.
The Steelers have clinched a playoff spot, so a playoff win could come to fruition. A Super Bowl run seem less likely, judging by the last three games.
“I don’t want my legacy to say that ‘T.J. Watt (accomplished) all these individual things but what happened in the big moments?’” Watt said this past offseason. “That’s what we’re trying to get better (at), and I’m willing to do everything I possibly can and hopefully everybody in the locker room is on the same page.”
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