NFL History! TJ Watt ties the legendary Michael Strahan’s single season sack record!
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TJ Watt
A historic season is now set in stone for TJ Watt as the young pass rusher ties the great Michael Strahan for most sacks in a single season with 22.5 The legitimacy of this record is unquestionable. Some may look to put an asterisk on it but the fact that Watt managed to tie it while only playing 15 games negates the argument that it was done in a 17 game season. When Michael Strahan set the record in 2001 he took it over from Mark Gastineau who totaled 22 sacks in 1984. Strahan’s efforts that year were legendary. He had 7 multiple sack games and 3 of at least 3 sacks. What people don’t recall as being legendary is the way Brett Favre gave himself up on the play that broke the record.
The record has stood for 20 years but this isn’t the first time we’ve come close to tying or breaking the record. Justin Houston and Jared Allen both totaled 22 sacks in 2014 and 2011 respectively. More recently, Aaron Donald notched 20.5 in 2018. However, none of them have managed to tie it until today with TJ Watt being the only person besides Strahan to cross 22. Given that he did it in 15 games one can only wonder how much more could he have had if he had played all 17 games?
22.5 Sacks in only 15 games for TJ Watt
The season started very hot for Watt as through the first 10 games he recorded 13.5 sacks and only had 2 games in that whole stretch without a sack. In terms of multiple sack games across the first 10 weeks, Watt had 6 of which 2 were 3 sack performances. His real opportunity to chase the record came after his 4 sack week 17 performance against the Cleveland Browns.
That took his total up to 21.5 before today’s game which made the record much more attainable than Justin Houston’s 2014 effort where he need 5.5 sacks in the final game of the season. The record came in dominant fashion just before halftime as Watt powered through the Ravens’ right tackle to wrap up quarterback Brett Hundley. Watt finished the game with 5 total tackles, 1 sack, and a pass deflection to help his Steelers knock off
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Roshan Anand
(278 Articles Published)