(Photo: Philip G. Pavely / USA Today)
After T.J. Watt high-stepped through the end zone to celebrate his decisive scoop-and-score, he jogged to the sideline and presented fellow Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith with a gift: the football.
Sure Watt scored. But in Watt’s eyes, it was Highsmith who made the play. He’s the one who beat Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. with a quick burst around the edge, swatted the ball from quarterback Deshaun Watson and left it bouncing on the turf.
But when Watt handed the football to Highsmith, he refused.
“No, you take it,” Highsmith said.
In Highsmith’s eyes, it was Watt who deserved to keep the ball. He’s the one who had the awareness to pick it up off the turf and return it 17 yards for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 6:58 remaining.
You take it. No, you. You. You. Back and forth they went until, finally, Highsmith accepted.
In a more metaphorical way, if you’re looking to award a game ball after the Steelers’ 26-22 victory over the Browns, good luck picking between Watt and Highsmith. On the night that Watt recorded sack No. 81.5 to overtake James Harrison for the franchise record, his counterpart might have been an even greater game-wrecking force.
Together, they helped will the Steelers to victory on a night when their short-handed defense got even thinner, the offense was largely inept and, by the end of it, a large swath of fans loudly chanted for offensive coordinator Matt Canada to be fired.
“We needed it,” coach Mike Tomlin said of the performances from Watt and Highsmith. “We expect it. And they delivered.”
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