T.J. Watt can win the game and the DPOY award with a big day vs. the Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker, T.J. Watt has already been named to the Pro Bowl team and will surely be named to the All-Pro team once again. But with an extremely favorable matchup on Sunday he can win the Steelers the AFC North and himself his first defensive player of the year awards.

Everything is set up for the Steelers best player to be the hero in its most important game of the season. With Colts’ right tackle Braden Smith being placed on the COVID-19/Reserve List, it means reserve tackles Chaz Green or Will Holden will be likely candidates to step up into the right tackle role Sunday against the Steelers. Rookie Danny Pinter, who played right tackle for Ball State, could also be a possibility at the position. Regardless of who lineups at the spot, the youngest Watt brother will be looking at an overly matched right tackle.

Watt will certainly see his fair share of double teams, but if he’s truly the best defensive player in football he shouldn't have a problem getting to Philip Rivers and company. Every NFL award winner usually has a signature game that pushes their campaign over the top and in Week 16 Watt should have his shining day. If he can sack Philips Rivers a time or two and force a timely turnover in a Steelers’ victory I'll have no doubt T.J. Watt will be hoisting some hardware in February.

The Steelers have had such a hard time finding offense the past month they're going to need to find it from unlikely sources. That’s where Watt comes in, and I'm not saying he needs to score a touchdown in the game, but forcing a turnover in the Colts end could greatly impact this week’s game. Much like how Minkah Fitzpatrick put the Colts on ice in 2019, the Steelers defense will need to come up big to finish out 2020, and nobody should be looked at more than one of the best players in the NFL today.

The Watt family already has three defensive player of the year trophies in their name, but those all belong to Houston Texans star, J.J. Watt. T.J. can start chasing his big brother’s legacy by engraving his name on the trophy that made J.J. Watt a household name.

What do you think? Is this the week that T.J. Watt can single-handedly win the Steelers the game and all the riches that come with it? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.