TJ Watt isn’t just entering his 30s; he’s dominating them. The Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker turned Allegiant Stadium into his playground on Sunday night as he powered his team to a 32-13 blowout over the Las Vegas Raiders. Watt may not have tallied a sack, but with two forced fumbles and two tackles for loss, he made sure the Raiders knew he was there. “I feel great,” Watt told CBS postgame, dismissing any talk of aging. “I don’t feel any aging in my body at all right now.” At 30, he’s making it clear: he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Despite Watt’s heavy impact, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pittsburgh. The offense sputtered early, failing to find the end zone on their first drive and settling for a Chris Boswell field goal. But when they finally found a rhythm, it was through the legs of quarterback Justin Fields and running back Najee Harris. Fields, showing off his dual-threat capabilities, scrambled for 61 yards and scored twice on the ground, while Harris notched his best performance of the season with 106 yards on 14 carries, including a 36-yard dash for his first TD of the year. Fields’ passing game was another story, struggling for accuracy with just 145 yards on 14 of 24 completions. Still, the Steelers pieced together enough offense to post their highest score this season.
But where Pittsburgh shined was on defense. After giving up an early rushing touchdown to the Raiders, the Steelers’ defense completely locked down, forcing three straight punts and setting the tone for the rest of the game. Watt’s relentless pursuit forced a fumble out of rookie RB Dylan Laube on his first carry, which was recovered by Keeanu Benton. The Steelers’ special teams chipped in as well, with linebacker Jeremiah Moon stepping in to block a punt, setting up yet another scoring chance. Cornerback Donte Jackson added an interception for good measure, as the Steelers allowed the Raiders to reach the end zone just twice and held them under 300 total yards.
Unfortunately, injuries continue to be a theme for the Steelers. Center Zach Frazier exited in the second half, but the Steelers remain hopeful for his return in Week 7 when they face Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. With this win, the Steelers move to 4-2, tying them with the Ravens for first place in the AFC North.
TJ Watt and the Steelers aren’t just surviving—they’re thriving, and they’ll be ready for whatever the Jets throw at them next week.
