A weekly series that captures the forgotten and hidden plays that led to the Pittsburgh Steelers winning or losing. Not the touchdowns, turnovers, or plays that will make the Monday morning highlights – the little ones that, looking back, played a key role in the outcome. I’ll start with a hidden moment that helped the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11.
A Hidden Watt Swat
T.J. Watt didn’t register a sack Sunday. In fact, Joe Flacco was sacked just once Sunday in the Bengals’ loss to the Steelers. But Watt, like he’s always done, made plays beyond hitting the quarterback. None bigger than the hidden swat the play before Kyle Dugger’s game-changing pick-six.
Cincinnati is driving in a 13-9 game. On 2nd and 9, the Bengals go empty and spread out the field. Isolating WR Ja’Marr Chase over the middle, he’s open even with FS Jalen Ramsey charging hard downhill. Chase has a step and is set to make the catch, potentially able to turn upfield and move the sticks.
But Watt, rushing off the offense’s right side, manages to get eyes on Flacco and throw his hand up. He tips the ball, putting it behind Chase and incomplete.
The live view doesn’t do it justice. Check out the end zone angle. Watch Watt get his left hand free even as he’s locked up by the right tackle and carried into the right guard.
It’s a heck of a play. Maybe Yahya Black gets his hand on it if Watt doesn’t. But so many of these chosen plays are the “I’m glad we didn’t have to find out.” And I’m glad Watt made the play instead of hoping Black could pull it off.
Those extra effort and “little things” plays make a world of difference. It didn’t feel like much in the moment, it’s just an incompletion, but it created third and nine. The following play, Watt and Nick Herbig got pressure and forced Flacco into a bad throw and a pick-six that turned the game on its head. But if Watt doesn’t make this play, Chase makes the catch, and who knows what happens the rest of the way.
Pittsburgh’s front is so good at batting down passes at the line. Cam Heyward is the king, but he’s hardly the only one. Watt has seven deflections this season. Heyward six. Jack Sawyer has three and rookie Derrick Harmon has one. All in a reminder that even if Pittsburgh’s potent pass rushers don’t get home, they can still make a real impact.
Recommended for you