T.J. Watt has opportunity to set historic NFL first on Saturday vs. Ravens

Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt may not be the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year this season, but he can become the first player ever to lead the NFL in sacks three times. Heck, if it wasn’t for injury in 2022, this could very well be a story about T.J. having a chance at four consecutive sack titles.

The Steelers LB led the league in 2020 and 2021 and is currently tied for the lead league in sacks at 17. His competition? Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson and Jaguars LB Josh Allen trailing slightly behind at 16.5. On Saturday, Watt has the unique opportunity to give the Steelers a chance at the playoffs against a bitter division rival in the Ravens, and if these numbers hold, to once more etch his name in the NFL history books.

It’s an opportunity that begs a question. How on earth is T.J. Watt running third in the 2023 DPOY race? Not only are Myles Garrett, the current DPOY favorite (-200), and Micah Parsons (+300) lagging behind at 14 and 13 sacks respectively, they trail in almost every other major defensive category. But more on these numbers later.

We don’t have to travel too far back in time to find the other most recent two-time NFL sack leader. We don’t even have to leave the family. T.J. Watt’s brother, J.J. Watt, led the league in 2012 and 2015. Beyond the family, other two-timers include Michael Strahan, Jared Allen, DeMarcus Ware, Kevin Greene, Mark Gastineau, and Reggie White.

T.J. Watt for DPOY? Making the case

T.J.’s 2023 season has been nothing short of spectacular, whether he claims the sack title on Saturday or not. Even so, he’s currently +400 in the Defensive Player of the Year running behind Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons.

Steelers fans don’t need T.J.’s impact quantified to understand what he brings to the table week in and week out. But the numbers are eye-opening.

Watt (17) leads Myles Garrett (14) and Micah Parsons (13) in sacks. This we know. But per ESPN’s player stats, he also leads them in solo tackles (42) and total tackles (60). He has an interception, the other two don’t. He has four forced fumbles, tied with Myles Garrett, sure, but that’s three more than Parsons. He also leads them in QB hits with 34 and passes defended with 8. The only major category in which Watt doesn’t have an edge on Myles or Micah is tackles for loss. He has 16, the other two are tied at 17.

Granted, the overall tackle numbers aren’t mind-blowing, and these stats don’t take plays like Myles Garrett’s insane blocked FG against the Colts into account. But when the DPOY field is stacked with pass rushers, and T.J.’s pass-rushing numbers are objectively better… well, that’s for the voters to decide.