Easy To Say Week 9 results aided Steelers T.J. Watt in uncontested Defensive Player of the Year race

T.J. Watt is typically the defensive player who commands the spotlight, but in Week 9, the Pittsburgh Steelers star didn’t have to do anything to boost his chances of winning the Defensive Player of the Year award.

With the Steelers on their bye week, Watt enjoyed a well-deserved rest while watching other defenders across the league compete. Thankfully for him, the outcomes of those performances only helped improve his odds of securing a second DPOY award.

Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, once viewed as one of T.J. Watt’s top contenders for the Defensive Player of the Year award, had a quiet performance against the Commanders on Sunday, failing to record a sack or a tackle for loss. With another loss for the Giants, Lawrence’s chances for the award are rapidly diminishing.

Watt’s main competition now comes from Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones. Anderson missed the Texans’ Week 9 Thursday Night Football game against the Jets, while Jones is in the midst of a four-game stretch without a sack following Sunday Night Football.

Heading into Week 10, Watt has -135 odds to win the DPOY award, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, leaving every other contender in the rearview.

A dark horse candidate could rise against T.J. Watt in DPOY race

T.J. Watt’s toughest competition for the DPOY award this year was expected to be Aidan Hutchinson. With the Lions playing like one of the top teams in the NFL, Hutchinson was having an exceptional season. However, a severe leg injury prematurely ended his 2024 campaign.

While T.J. Watt remains the clear favorite to win the DPOY award, a new contender is starting to make waves.

Trey Hendrickson, long one of the NFL’s most underrated pass rushers, is quickly gaining attention. The Bengals standout just posted a four-sack game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9.

After recording 17.5 sacks and earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2023, Hendrickson has already racked up 11.0 sacks through 9 games this season. At his current pace, he’s on track for around 20.5 sacks in 2024.

Steelers fans know all too well that winning the Defensive Player of the Year award requires more than just impressive sack numbers (or else Watt would already have three such honors). While Hendrickson could have a standout season as a pass rusher, it might not be enough to clinch the award.

His chances of winning largely depend on the Bengals’ success over the remainder of the season. If Cincinnati can make a strong run in the second half, Hendrickson could position himself as one of the top contenders for DPOY.

Steelers fans can rest easy. The Associated Press voters are finally acknowledging the immense impact T.J. Watt has on a weekly basis and how crucial he is to his team’s success. As long as Watt stays healthy and Pittsburgh’s defense continues to perform well, he will remain the clear frontrunner for the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award.