CINCINNATI — This goes back to the Steelers’ second game of the 2004 season. Tommy Maddox blew out his right elbow in a loss at Baltimore, leaving unproven rookie Ben Roethlisberger to take over the offense. I clearly remember Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward saying the same thing after the game: “Our season is done.”
None of the Steelers expressed that sad sentiment Sunday after NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt left the crazy, unlikely, improbable 23-20 overtime win against the Cincinnati Bengals late in regulation, but it’s easy to imagine a whole bunch were thinking it. All of Pittsburgh had to be thinking it when Watt came off the field and said to the team’s medical people for all the omnipresent cameras to see, “I tore my pec.”
It was hard to imagine worse news.
The Steelers have been down this rocky road before. Cam Heyward tore a pectoral muscle in a game at Dallas in November 2016 and was lost for the season. Stephon Tuitt tore a pec in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers in October 2019 and also was done for the season.
“Bleep,” Steelers cornerback Cam Sutton whispered when he heard what Watt said.
Then, for emphasis, Sutton said it again.
“Bleep.”
I can’t think of a better word to describe the rotten situation.
Count me among those thinking the Steelers’ season is over if Watt is out long term.
Everybody knows the defense is going to have to carry the team this season as the team makes its transition from the Hall of Fame-bound Roethlisberger. And carry the team the defense did all day Sunday despite being on the Paycor Stadium (Paul Brown must be rolling in his grave!) lawn for 94 plays and nearly 45 minutes of game action. It made Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow seem human. Burrow threw four interceptions and lost a fumble when he was hit by Alex Highsmith. He was sacked seven times, thrice by Highsmith.
And we thought the Steelers’ offensive line was putrid?
Watt added to the mayhem for Burrow by being typically destructive. He had six solo tackles, including three for losses. He had one sack and had another nullified by holding call on Sutton. He batted away a couple of passes. On consecutive plays early in the second quarter, he blew up a handoff to Bengals back Joe Mixon for a 4-yard loss and then somehow held onto the ball for a fabulous leaping interception when Burrow threw it in his gut.
“I was on the sideline marveling, ‘This is what a defensive player of the year looks like,’” new Steelers linebacker Malik Reed said. “He’s a phenomenal player. It was exciting to see him do his thing.”
It was sickening to see Watt walk off the field, dangling his left arm after he was injured making a terrific play. He overpowered tackle La’el Collins, knocking him back almost into Burrow and sending his helmet flying. The least of Watt’s concerns was that he was penalized for illegal use of hands.
“I tore my pec.”
“I’m praying for him,” Highsmith said. “A guy like that, the best in the world at what he does. I know how hard he works. I know how much he loves the game of football.
“Steelers Nation, pray for him.”
Everybody from Heyward to Sutton to Highsmith talked about “the next man up.”
“You can’t dwell on it,” Sutton said. “That’s the sad part of this business. You’ve got to keep moving on, week in and week out.”
Reed is the next man up behind Watt. He came to the Steelers from Denver for a sixth-round draft pick late last month. He started 26 games the past two seasons and had a total of 13 sacks.
“I definitely have a lot of experience to play this game at a high level,” Reed said.
Who knows?
Maybe this troubling story will have a happy ending as it did in 2004 after Maddox went down. Roethlisberger stepped in and went 13-0 as the starting quarterback in the regular season, leading the Steelers to the AFC championship game.
Dare the Steelers and their fans dream?
Reed did his best to sound optimistic.
“A guy like that, of that caliber, doing it year in and year out, it’s going to be tough to replace him,” he said of Watt.
“We’ll do our best.”
What choice do the Steelers have?
