Giants’ plan for TJ Watt blows up at worst time with Daniel Jones’ blunder

PITTSBURGH — The Giants, earlier Monday night’s 26-18 loss, relished nan chance to play against T.J. Watt.

When nan taxable of nan champion subordinate connected nan Steelers was broached pinch Giants caput coach Brian Daboll during nan week successful beforehand of nan game, he raved astir nan Pittsburgh game-wrecking separator rusher.

“We could enactment present for a agelong clip talking astir T.J. Watt,” Daboll said earlier nan game. “He’s unbelievable. You watch his portion and each nan turnovers that he has and nan style that he plays pinch … I mean, he’s 1 of nan champion players successful nan league. He’s a move shot player. He’s a problem.’’

T.J. Watt (R.) and Alex Highsmith celebreate during nan Steelers’ triumph complete nan Giants connected Oct. 28, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Watt was precisely that connected Monday night. A large problem.

After having been neutralized successful a first half that featured a terrific scheme by nan Giants arsenic they moved a tight extremity to immoderate broadside Watt lined up connected to thief nan tackle, Watt blew nan crippled up pinch a monstrous strip-sack of Giants backmost Daniel Jones.

Watt recovered nan fumble pinch nan Giants successful Pittsburgh territory trailing by 8 points and driving pinch 2:59 remaining successful nan game.

The culprit connected nan play was not correct tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, whom Watt raced past to get to Jones.

It was Jones, who was expected to telephone for tight extremity Theo Johnson to displacement to nan correct broadside to thief Eluemunor, who was anticipating spot thief connected nan side.

And conscionable for illustration that, nan Giants comeback was thwarted.

“We had a displacement pinch nan tight extremity to get backmost complete to Watt and we didn’t get nan shift,” Daboll said afterward. “We talked astir it. DJ feels terrible. He was benignant of surveying nan coverage, deciding what he wanted to do and we didn’t get nan shift.’’

Jones, aft nan game, owned it.

“I needed to shift,” he said. “Theo was looking astatine nan sum and I didn’t displacement him and Jermaine expected maine chip, and he didn’t get that. That’s my fault.”

Watt, who was quiet successful nan first half erstwhile he was decently chipped by tight ends, vanished pinch 2 sacks, 7 tackles and 2 backmost hits.

“I saw nan tight extremity complete pinch maine and I saw [Watt] 1 connected 1 pinch [Eluemunor] and thought, ‘He’s astir to make a play,’ and he did,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “He sewage nan ball. That’s what he does. That’s why he’s nan champion successful nan world.”

T.J. Watt sacks Daniel Jones and forces a fumble during nan Steelers’ triumph complete nan Giants connected Oct. 28, 2024. Screengrab

Watt entered nan crippled having gone nan erstwhile 2 games without a sack, truthful surely, arsenic a subordinate who had much than 100 profession sacks, he was hungry.

“The point pinch T.J. is he tin lull you to slumber and you’re reasoning aft a fewer bully reps against him and then, retired of nowhere, he tin deed you pinch that crazy-ass move that you weren’t expecting and past he’s forcing a fumble aliases making an interception aliases banging a strip-sack,” Eluemunor said earlier nan game. “So, arsenic a tackle it’s your occupation to support that from happening and support him retired of nan game.”

Jones wasn’t sacked erstwhile successful nan first half, but was taken down 4 times successful nan 2nd half for losses of 27 yards.

“I’m not amazed by it,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of Watt’s monster 2nd half. “That doesn’t mean that it’s not appreciated. I conscionable travel to expect it because he’s sewage a unsocial talent. That usually produces unsocial results.”