WATCH: “Dirtiest player in league!” – Steelers LB TJ Watt crushing late tackle on Bengals QB Jake Browning gets condemned by fans on social media

Social media may not like TJ Watt's style of play but he reached another milestone by using the same method.

WATCH: “Dirtiest player in league!” – Steelers LB TJ Watt crushing late tackle on Bengals QB Jake Browning gets condemned by fans on social media

TJ Watt's late tackle on Bengals QB Jake Browning (Image via YouTube)

There’s bound to be a few flying challenges when rivals go head-to-head, and that was the case when Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt smashed into Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning on Sunday night. Unsurprisingly, social media did not appreciate the tackle, going as far as branding it ‘dirty.’

With a little over 5 minutes left on the clock before the first half came to an end, the Bengals had the ball on 2 and 9 in their own half. Browning took the snap, and to avoid the on-rushing blitz, he backtracked a few steps and released the ball without realizing that Watt had managed to free himself of any blockers.

The 29-year-old rammed his full body into the Cincinnati man, and both fell to the ground face-first. Browning completed the pass to wide receiver Trenton Irwin for a 25-yard gain, but the drive ended in a punt.

YouTube video

Meanwhile, the referee flagged Watt for unnecessary roughness on the Bengals QB and a 15-yard penalty. The social media believe rightfully so, but some of them even wanted a harsher punishment.

https://twitter.com/NFLrookieSZN/status/1728870149317664805

TJ Watt recorded his 90th sack of his career

While social media was bickering about whether TJ Watt’s hit on Jake Browning was late or not, the five-time Pro Bowler checked off a personal milestone. This may not please the section of fans who are more anti-Watt, but the 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year joined an elite group of players with more than 90 sacks in their career.

WATCH: "Dirtiest player in league!" - Steelers LB TJ Watt's crushing late tackle on Bengals QB Jake Browning gets condemned by fans on social media
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (Image via Bleacher Report)

Besides the alleged late hit, Browning had to suffer sacks on the day from Watt. He now has 91 sacks in just 98 NFL games—only the second player to ever cross that threshold—and Reggie White has 105 sacks in his first 100 games.

While he may not beat the Hall of Famer, it has a poetic tune that he managed to carve his name in the same sentence as the player whom he grew up idolizing. White completed his career with 198 sacks.

TJ is close to reaching his brother Houston Texans Hall of Famer JJ Watt‘s NFL tally of 114.5 sacks. He is still on the right side of 30, and if he manages to keep himself injury-free, that would be another achievement for the younger Watt. He has 13.5 sacks in 2023 and is on course for a 21-sack season, depending on how far the Pittsburgh Steelers go in the postseason.

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