Emotional victory for Watt, defense
T.J. Watt still had tears in his eyes 15 minutes after the game ended. The rookie had just made the biggest defensive play of the game to secure the Steelers another AFC North Division championship. But that’s not the reason he was crying.
Watt and many other Steelers had trouble keeping it together after the game. They had just FaceTimed with Ryan Shazier, who was a few miles away in his hospital bed. Shazier had surgery Wednesday after suffering a spinal cord injury a week ago in Cincinnati and could not be with his teammates.
“This is all a product of Shay,” Watt said, struggling to get his words out. “He’s what makes this defense go. We had to do it without him. It was tough, but I was proud of the way we brought it together and never gave up.”
Watt’s sack was the only one of the game, but it was a timely one for the Steelers defense, which was hanging on for dear life against a suddenly potent Ravens offense that churned out 413 yards and 38 points against them.
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco had 15 seconds left on the clock and needed 25 yards to give kicker Justin Tucker a realistic chance to win the game. Watt wasn’t on his usual side. He was on the left side of the defense while veteran James Harrison was on the right.
Watt flushed Flacco out of the pocket and strip-sacked him before he could get rid of the ball. Game over.
“I was just trying to use all the energy I had left in the tank,” Watt said. “It was a long game. We had a lot of rush opportunities throughout the game. I felt like I was getting close. Toward the end, I just wanted to give it everything I had and make a play for the defense.
“I just wanted get to the ball. I was saying, ‘ Don’t throw it away, don’t throw it away.’ Sometimes we’re so close as rush men that they just throw it away at the end. Knowing that they had to make a big play I thought he’d be hanging onto it. I just went for the ball when I got to him.”
The Steelers defense had been on its heels because the Ravens ran the ball so well against them. The Ravens had 152 yards rushing, which gave Flacco plenty of opportunities to throw down the field with play-action passes.
Flacco, who finished with 269 yards passing, frustrated Steelers rushers all game by getting the ball out of his hand quickly or by his playaction passing.
“We knew when we finally got them into a situation when they had to pass the ball we finally converted,” defensive end Cameron Heyward said. “I think the one before that Joe threw off his back foot. [Stephon] Tuitt had the pressure. That sack was very clutch. This kid T.J. Watt, he’s not afraid of the moment. I was proud of him.”
It was Watt’s sixth sack of the season, the most by Steelers outside linebackers this season. It says something about Watt that the coaches wanted him in there with the game on the line.
Watt delivered, and his teammates weren’t surprised in the least bit.
“How many games has T.J. played?” inside linebacker Vince Williams asked? “Thirteen games now? T.J. isn’t a rookie anymore. You expect those types of plays from an amazing player like him. He’s experienced. He’s been in there since Day 1. He’s another playmaker we look to, to make plays, and he came through.”
The defense allowed 24 points in the second half and was rescued by their offense, which scored 16 points in the final 9:15. It seemed like a game that whoever had the ball last would win.
That is until Watt changed the script.
“I didn’t even know where the ball went to be honest with you,” he said. “I just got up kicking and screaming. It was a heck of a way to win. To have our backs against the wall … To bow up and make a play. Our offense has had that opportunity so many times. It was really special for us.”