The Pittsburgh Steelers stumbled hard in Week 2, getting absolutely shellacked by the New England Patriots 20-3. That scoreline? Yeah, it’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you think about the sky-high expectations for this squad coming into the season. I mean, we’re talking about MVP-winning quarterback Aaron Rodgers back and Super Bowl-winning head coach Mike McCarthy taking the reins for his first year. The possibilities felt endless, like we were heading for another trophy run with Rodgers and McCarthy together again. So to fall apart like that? Oof, it was a rough watch.
The Week 2 Bomb Feels Like A Distant Memory Thanks To Watt
Despite that Week 2 face-plant, it’s not all doom and gloom for Steelers fans. There’s a massive bright spot, a legitimate reason to get hyped, and his name is T.J. Watt. Going into Week 3, ESPN dropped a feature shining a light on the biggest surprises across the NFL, and for Pittsburgh, it’s Watt’s absolutely unreal performance. Brooke Pryor from ESPN said it best, “Watt has been quick to remind the NFL that even after two down seasons, he’s still otherworldly.” Think about that for a second: otherworldly! This dude is reminding everyone he’s still a force of nature.
Watt’s Dominance: A Scheme Dream Come True
What’s making Watt so dominant right now? It’s all thanks to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s scheme. Pryor explained that Watt, at 31 years old, is “reinvigorated” by Graham’s plan. He’s actually playing fewer snaps because of Graham’s carefully monitored rotation, and he’s varying his rush locations, keeping offensive lines guessing every single play. That combo, a “better rested and more unpredictable Watt?” Yeah, as Pryor perfectly put it, “That’s a nightmare for O-coordinators.” He’s out there making life miserable for quarterbacks and their coaches. The numbers don’t lie either: Watt is already No. 2 in sacks in the entire NFL this season, racking up 3.5 per game! He’s a gift on that defense. And to top it off, he already has a touchdown this season. That means even more when you consider the Steelers’ offense only has one touchdown total heading into Week 3. Talk about carrying the load!
So, what’s next? Going into Week 3, the focus has to be on keeping Watt at this insane level. He’s the spark, the engine, the guy giving fans a reason to raise their heads after that brutal Week 2 loss. With Watt playing like this, the future can’t be all doom and gloom. This guy’s a cheat code, and he’s proving it every single snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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