T.J. Watt had one of the plays of the week in Week 1, and his former teammate Ben Roethlisberger made sure everyone knew it. The Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher picked off a pass, ran it back for a touchdown, and instantly shut down the idea that he might be slipping.
Roethlisberger slammed the doubters on his podcast, “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.” He said people talking about Watt declining were “ridiculous.”
Roethlisberger’s Podcast Outburst
Roethlisberger was watching the play unfold on his podcast. He saw Watt grab the ball in mid-air, take it to the end zone, and remind everyone why he belongs in a class of his own.
“I think the most ridiculous thing that I’d heard recently was people talking about T.J. Watt being finished,” Roethlisberger said. “Like, ‘Oh, well, he declined.’ I was like, you just can’t rule out a Watt. I don’t think you’re allowed to do that.”
The comment landed with the force of a man who knows exactly what he is talking about. Watt is one of the most dominant players in the league, and Roethlisberger refused to let anyone question that.
What Sets Watt Apart
Watt is not just an elite pass rusher. He is a game-changer. Other great defenders settle for batting balls down at the line of scrimmage. Watt reaches up and grabs them, like a highlight reel catch.
Roethlisberger described it with a joke that will live forever in Steelers lore. He said Watt snatches passes like a “Belgian Malinois catching a tennis ball.”
The comparison is absurd. It is also perfect. Watt has the instincts of a dog on a toy, but he is faster and stronger than anyone else on the field.
Holmes on Watt’s Playmaking
Santonio Holmes, the former Super Bowl MVP, knows what it looks like when a defender turns into an offensive weapon. He watched Watt’s pick-six and saw exactly what Roethlisberger meant.
Holmes pointed to the moment after Watt grabbed the ball. He said Watt has the ability to say, “You know what? I got a chance to score six here.”
“He’s one of those guys like, ‘Offense isn’t really doing it. Let me do it,'” Holmes noted.
That is the difference between Watt and everyone else. Most defenders are content to make a stop. Watt is looking to change the game.
The Pick-Six That Set It All Off
Watt’s interception return for a touchdown was the play that started the conversation. It was a reminder of everything he does well. He gets to the quarterback, he forces the ball loose, and he turns a turnover into points.
The play put the argument to rest. Watt does not just disrupt drives. He alters the trajectory of games.
The media spends endless hours debating where Watt ranks among other elite defenders. Plays like this one settle the debate. Watt is not just good. He is better than everyone else.
Watt’s Unmatched Instincts
The key to Watt’s greatness is his instincts. He sees the ball in a way few others can. Once the ball touches his hands, he shifts from pass rusher to playmaker.
That transition happens in seconds. The ball is in the air, Watt is there, and the next thing you know, he is running toward the end zone.
Watt does not wait for the offense to do the work. He takes it himself. That is why he is so dangerous. He can win from any position on the field.
Roethlisberger’s Confidence
Roethlisberger made that clear on his podcast. He dismissed the doubters with a wave of his hand. He said you cannot rule out a Watt.
The comparison to a Belgian Malinois catching a tennis ball was not meant seriously. It was meant to be funny. But it also captured the essence of what Watt does.
Watt is a dog chasing a ball. He is a machine pursuing a target. He is a force of nature on the football field.
The Verdict on Watt
Watt is one of the most versatile players in the league. He can dominate as a pass rusher, he can make plays in coverage, and he can change the game with his legs.
The Week 1 pick-six was a statement. It was a reminder to everyone who doubted him that he is still the guy. Watt is not declining. He is evolving.
The doubters were wrong. Watt showed it with one play. Now they have to live with the shame of having questioned him.
| Watt’s Pick-Six | Watt’s Career | |
|---|---|---|
| Play Type | Interception Return for a Touchdown | Pass Rushing and Turnovers |
| Role | Game-Changing Offensive Points | Defensive Stop |
| Outcome | Changed the Trajectory of the Game | Disrupted Drives |
| Reaction | Slammed by Roethlisberger | Settles Debate |
- Watt picks off the pass and runs it back.
- Roethlisberger slams doubters on his podcast.
- Holmes praises Watt’s instincts.
- The play settles the positional rankings debate.
- Watt remains a dominant edge rusher.
The takeaway is simple. Watt is a generational talent. He has not slowed down. He has not declined. He has just kept getting better.
Roethlisberger’s podcast outburst was a reminder of that. The former quarterback was watching the play unfold and could not help himself. He had to speak his mind.
He did not mince words. He called the doubters ridiculous. He said you cannot rule out a Watt. He said he does not think you are allowed to dismiss him.
That is the kind of confidence that comes from knowing what you are talking about. Roethlisberger played with Watt. He saw him every day. He knows what Watt can do.
He knows Watt is not finished. He knows Watt is not declining. He knows Watt is still as good as ever.
The pick-six was the proof. Watt grabbed the ball, ran it back, and scored. He did it with ease. He did it with grace. He did it with power.
The doubters were wrong. Watt showed them. He showed everyone. He showed the NFL world why he stands in a class of his own.
The media will keep debating Watt’s ranking. They will keep asking the same questions. They will keep wondering if he is still the best.
But the answer is always the same. Watt is the best. He has been the best for years. He will be the best for years to come.
The Week 1 pick-six was a statement. It was a reminder. It was a warning. It was a declaration.
T.J. Watt is not finished. He is just getting started.
See the video the story is built around at Sports.
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