T.J. Watt tackles Woody Marks during the Steelers' 30-6 loss to the Texans on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium.
If you think you're tired of this, T.J. Watt sure sounds like he's at his wit's end over the Steelers' run of nine straight seasons without a playoff win.
"Same story," Watt said in opening his postgame press conference after the Steelers' 30-6 blowout loss to the Texans on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium. "I mean, you guys saw what happened."
Yep. What was a tight, winnable game for three quarters turned into a runaway in which the Texans ran the ball for 164 yards and outscored the Steelers, 23-0, in the second half. And Watt is as upset as anyone else that they allowed this team in particular to run the ball so effectively in the playoffs.
"We talk about playoff football, especially in cold weather, it's going to be all about the run game and establishing the run," Watt said. "When you can't do that, it's a butt-kicking."
However, while it wasn't anywhere near perfect, the one difference in this story and the six that preceded it -- now that the playoff losing streak is at seven games -- is the defense didn't let this thing get out of hand. In fact, they kept the team in the game while the offense failed time and again to crack Houston's top-ranked defense.
After the Steelers took an early 3-0 lead, Jack Sawyer provided the first splash with a strip-sack, coming up with a big play in the playoffs, just as he did for Ohio State one calendar year prior:
After the Texans took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter and the offense went three-and-out, the defense once again stood up and created a huge splash play as Keeanu Benton stripped C.J. Stroud, with Watt falling on the ball to put the Steelers in prime scoring range at the Houston 21-yard line:
For the trifecta, the defense stepped up once again on Houston's opening drive of the second half, holding strong against Stroud and the Texans' offense as Brandin Echols came up with an interception to thwart a legitimate scoring chance.
Three turnovers provided by the defense resulted in a whopping total of three measly points. When playing against any team that has one side of the ball ranked No. 1 in the NFL, opportunities have to be seized.
That's why when Watt stepped to the podium after the game, he didn't take solace in the three takeaways or that the offense allowed 14 of the Texans' 30 points, making the defense's performance look worse than it really was. Regardless, it still means that Watt, who's now 31 years old, has more Defensive Player of the Year awards (1) than playoff wins (0).
Now, many will point the finger at Watt and say he only has one playoff sack and that his production this season was at an all-time low after receiving a contract worth $41 million per season through his age 34 season. All of that is fair and worth consideration as one tries to map their way through what's sure to be another active offseason for the Steelers.
The problem is, no matter how the Steelers have dressed things up, no matter what quarterback they've brought in, no matter the circumstance, every season since Watt's been drafted ends the same: Zero playoff wins. And when Watt was asked what needs to change to alter that outcome, Watt allowed his frustration to show.
"I haven't had the answer for a long time," he said. "So don't ask me."
And while Watt's own performance will warrant scrutiny, playoff wins are ultimately earned as a team, not just one player. Now, the Steelers have some promising young players. While Monday night was not a shining example, the offensive line took a big step forward this season. First-round pick Derrick Harmon, who had a sack Monday night, looks like the real deal. Joey Porter Jr. has blossomed into a shutdown cornerback.
But is that enough to make Watt feel good about where the team is heading?
"Not enough right now," he said, wrapping up his press conference.
Getting throttled in the playoffs yet again, this time at home in front of fans for the first time in eight years, with several holes on the roster to address, yeah, it's hard to find the silver lining on this end, too.
THE ASYLUM
The Big Player: Watt frustrated over 'same story'
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
T.J. Watt tackles Woody Marks during the Steelers' 30-6 loss to the Texans on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium.
If you think you're tired of this, T.J. Watt sure sounds like he's at his wit's end over the Steelers' run of nine straight seasons without a playoff win.
"Same story," Watt said in opening his postgame press conference after the Steelers' 30-6 blowout loss to the Texans on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium. "I mean, you guys saw what happened."
Yep. What was a tight, winnable game for three quarters turned into a runaway in which the Texans ran the ball for 164 yards and outscored the Steelers, 23-0, in the second half. And Watt is as upset as anyone else that they allowed this team in particular to run the ball so effectively in the playoffs.
"We talk about playoff football, especially in cold weather, it's going to be all about the run game and establishing the run," Watt said. "When you can't do that, it's a butt-kicking."
However, while it wasn't anywhere near perfect, the one difference in this story and the six that preceded it -- now that the playoff losing streak is at seven games -- is the defense didn't let this thing get out of hand. In fact, they kept the team in the game while the offense failed time and again to crack Houston's top-ranked defense.
After the Steelers took an early 3-0 lead, Jack Sawyer provided the first splash with a strip-sack, coming up with a big play in the playoffs, just as he did for Ohio State one calendar year prior:
After the Texans took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter and the offense went three-and-out, the defense once again stood up and created a huge splash play as Keeanu Benton stripped C.J. Stroud, with Watt falling on the ball to put the Steelers in prime scoring range at the Houston 21-yard line:
For the trifecta, the defense stepped up once again on Houston's opening drive of the second half, holding strong against Stroud and the Texans' offense as Brandin Echols came up with an interception to thwart a legitimate scoring chance.
Three turnovers provided by the defense resulted in a whopping total of three measly points. When playing against any team that has one side of the ball ranked No. 1 in the NFL, opportunities have to be seized.
That's why when Watt stepped to the podium after the game, he didn't take solace in the three takeaways or that the offense allowed 14 of the Texans' 30 points, making the defense's performance look worse than it really was. Regardless, it still means that Watt, who's now 31 years old, has more Defensive Player of the Year awards (1) than playoff wins (0).
Now, many will point the finger at Watt and say he only has one playoff sack and that his production this season was at an all-time low after receiving a contract worth $41 million per season through his age 34 season. All of that is fair and worth consideration as one tries to map their way through what's sure to be another active offseason for the Steelers.
The problem is, no matter how the Steelers have dressed things up, no matter what quarterback they've brought in, no matter the circumstance, every season since Watt's been drafted ends the same: Zero playoff wins. And when Watt was asked what needs to change to alter that outcome, Watt allowed his frustration to show.
"I haven't had the answer for a long time," he said. "So don't ask me."
And while Watt's own performance will warrant scrutiny, playoff wins are ultimately earned as a team, not just one player. Now, the Steelers have some promising young players. While Monday night was not a shining example, the offensive line took a big step forward this season. First-round pick Derrick Harmon, who had a sack Monday night, looks like the real deal. Joey Porter Jr. has blossomed into a shutdown cornerback.
But is that enough to make Watt feel good about where the team is heading?
"Not enough right now," he said, wrapping up his press conference.
Getting throttled in the playoffs yet again, this time at home in front of fans for the first time in eight years, with several holes on the roster to address, yeah, it's hard to find the silver lining on this end, too.
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