via Getty
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates sacking Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears during the second half of their game at Heinz Field on November 08, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
via Getty
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 08: T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates sacking Justin Fields #1 of the Chicago Bears during the second half of their game at Heinz Field on November 08, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
TJ Watt was all jubilant and cheerful on Sunday when during his season finale matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, the linebacker sacked his way through a phenomenal single-season record. TJ Watt sacked quarterback Tyler Huntley in the second quarter of the game to reach a tremendous milestone of 23.5 sacks in the season.
That sack made him the NFL’s single-season sack record, or at least he thought it did. According to the gameday statisticians, TJ Watt’s first-quarter forced fumble was an aborted play, not a sack. If it had been a sack, he would have been just ahead of Michael Strahan (former Giants pass-rusher & Pro Football Hall of Famer).
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TJ believed that the statisticians in Baltimore got him shorthanded and so the Steelers filed a formal appeal on his behalf. However, for the time being, the linebacker would have to settle for a tie with the former Giants DE with a sack total of 22.5.
TJ Watt settles for a tie with Michael Strahan
The play in question happened in the first quarter of the game when the Ravens center played a bad snap that hit the ground. Tyler Huntley dove down to get the ball and got up just to get sacked to the ground from Watt. Watt believed it to be a sack since the quarterback was well in place to throw the ball.
Love to see it!
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/8ahQWPYf84
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 9, 2022
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“It was empty [backfield] and there was a bad snap,” Watt told SI’s, Albert Breer. “[Tyler Huntley] fell on it, but then he got up. And when he got back up on his two feet, I tackled him and got the ball out. So, I mean, he very well could have still thrown the ball. My understanding was that it was a sack, but apparently, it wasn’t, at least according to the statisticians.”
USA Today via Reuters
Jan 9, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley (2) looks to pass as Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) applies pressure during the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports| Courtesy: Reuters
It is a very unfortunate instance for the 27-year-old to deal with. Clearly, Tyler was going to make the play and was not actually going to take the knee. In the end, Elias Sports Bureau has the final say on the matter, but TJ would try his best to break the record next season.
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Do you believe that it was a sack and that TJ should have got the record? Let us know in the comments below!
