It's been quite a month for Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt.
He started off the season strong, picking up from where he left off last year when he won the Steelers team MVP honor.
He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 2 performance against the Denver Broncos.
He had the opportunity to play in the same game with his two brothers, Steelers fullback Derek Watt and Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt last week, only the second time in 93 years that three brothers have played in the same NFL game.
And on Thursday, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September after dominating opposing offenses in three straight games.
"I think he's still writing that story," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "He was pretty awesome a year ago to be quite honest with you. I know he has an intention of being continually better, so he's still writing that story. His talents are just a part of the equation. His hyper-focus, his attention to detail, his awareness I think all add up to big playmaking ability and splash plays for us."
Watt has three and a half sacks through three games, 10 quarterback hits, nine tackles, three tackles for a loss, two pass defenses and an interception.
Last week against the Texans Watt had four tackles, four quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss and sacked Deshaun Watson for an 11-yard loss.
"I think they did a good job all day of protecting him and using a multitude of chips and backs and tight ends and receivers and funky splits, so that was affecting the way that I rush the passer," said Watt. "Funny enough at the end they just chipped a little bit too hard and the tackle came underneath, and I was able to make a play."
Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 2 performance against the Denver Broncos at Heinz Field. Watt had 2.5 sacks for a loss of 20 yards, four quarterback hits and four tackles. All of the sacks were against Jeff Driskel, who came in after Drew Lock left the game injured.
Since being drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Watt has 38 careers sacks, which ranks him fourth overall and first among NFL linebackers during the span. He also has recorded 26 sacks in 26 career games at Heinz Field, and only three players in NFL history have registered more sacks over their first 26 career home games. He has also recorded at least a half a sack in 15 of the Steelers last 16 home games, including the last 12.
Last season Watt was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, and twice named AFC Defensive Player of the Week in 2018.
