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Steelers LB T.J. Watt spoils Falcons' gameplan to stop him

Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) strips the ball from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) strips the ball from Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The buildup to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Atlanta Falcons game in week 1 was not without intrigue.  There was some drama surrounding the starting QB for the game, and if Tomlin was using this to his advantage.  The head coach for the Falcons, Raheem Morris, spoke on this idea, and one more concept that slid under the radar: stopping T. J. Watt from tearing into the Falcons.

If today's game was an indication of the preparation that Morris gave the Atlanta Falcons, for T.J. Watt, only one response is appropriate: Yikes!  T.J. was dominant against the run, had Cousins under pressure all game, recovered a fumble, and finished off the game with a sack.

For all the talk about preparing for T.J., it did not show in Sunday's game.  One could simply see the amount of effort that Kyle Pitts was using to assist in chipping T.J. all game: zero.

Regardless of whether or not Morris was truly determined to stop the former 'Defensive Player of the Year' or simply contain him, one thing was for certain on Sunday, T.J. Watt wrecked the game.

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This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers LB T.J. Watt spoils Falcons' gameplan to stop him