Steelers news: Fans think T.J. Watt should win Defensive Player of the Year

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The Steelers have a big game ahead of them this week as they travel to take on the 11-2 Philadelphia Eagles.

Earlier this week, we polled fans about their confidence in the direction the team is heading and whether or not T.J. Watt should be favored to win Defensive Player of the Year at this point in the season. Here’s what they had to say.

Most fans think T.J. Watt is the Defensive Player of the Year at this point in the season

Unsurprisingly, most Steelers fans see superstar pass-rusher T.J. Watt as the rightful Defensive Player of the Year favorite at this point in the season. However, 61%, while still a clear majority, feels significantly lower than it would’ve been in years past.

Watt is having another undeniably good year. He’s tied for the league lead in tackles for loss, has the most forced fumbles, and is top 10 on the sack leaderboard. However, his 2024 has felt less dominant than past seasons, and the main arguments for Watt’s DPOY candidacy seem to be built on how there aren’t many other strong contenders this year.

Watt is a household name at a position that usually wins the award, unlike defensive backs Xavier McKinney and Patrick Surtain II. He’s also on a good team, unlike Myles Garrett, and a good defense, unlike NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson. 2024 won’t go down as Watt’s best season, but it could result in him bringing home his second career DPOY award — he’s the odds-on favorite entering Week 15.

Fan confidence drops slightly following win over Browns

Steelers fan confidence skyrocketed to 96% last week following a two-score victory over the rival Cleveland Browns. However, with the 11-2 Eagles on the horizon and George Pickens dealing with an injury, it’s dropped slightly to 91%.

The Eagles game is important; it could give the Steelers a statement win and guarantee them a postseason berth. However, Pittsburgh has a two-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, meaning a loss won’t affect their playoff seeding.

Make sure to stay tuned to BTSC for Steelers news and discussion ahead of gameday on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:25 p.m. ET.