Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is following in the footsteps of his big brother, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, in wreaking havoc in the pocket against NFL quarterbacks. While J.J. has registered 12-1/2 sacks in this, his eighth year in the NFL, T.J. isn't far behind with 10 in just his second season in the league.
FOXBORO – Sacks, it seems, run in the Watt family.
With 12-1/2 this season, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is tied for third in the league in sacks and has moved into the top 50 all-time in the NFL (49th) with 88-1/2 over his eight-year career.
With 10 sacks this season heading into Sunday’s game with the Patriots at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, J.J.’s “little” brother, leads his team, which just so happens to lead the league with 45 (by comparison, the Pats have just 24).
A first-round draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2017, the 6-foot-4, 252-pound Watt registered seven sacks in his rookie year with the Steelers.
According to Bill Belichick, there's more to Watt's game than the sacks he's accumulated.
"He plays a lot in coverage for them, too," the Patriots head coach said. "He's an athletic guy, does a good job of really all those things. Plays the run well, is a good edge rusher and pretty good in coverage for a linebacker. He has good range, long. He's got good instincts. He's a versatile player for them. He does a lot of things."
Watt didn't do a whole lot - two unassisted tackles - the one time he's faced the Patriots, the Steelers' 27-24 loss at Heinz Field last Dec. 17.
Along with Watt, nose tackle Javon Hargrave (6-1-2), defensive end Cameron Heyward (six) and outside linebacker Bud Dupree (5-1/2) figure prominently in the Steelers’ league-leading sack attack this year.
Another milestone is at hand: With 69,859 yards passing over 19 years with the Patriots, Tom Brady heads into the game needing just 141 to become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach 70,000 passing yards in the regular season.
Drew Brees tops the list with 73,908 yards (and counting) with San Diego and now New Orleans, Peyton Manning amassed 71,940 with Indianapolis and Denver, and Brett Favre threw for 71,838 during his time with Green Bay, the New York Jets and Minnesota (he didn't complete a pass during his one season with Atlanta).