NFL: Top 25 boldest predictions for the rest of the season
By Nick Villano
NFL: Top 25 boldest predictions for the rest of the season: 21. T.J. Watt leads the league in sacks
On the surface, this may not seem like a bold prediction. T.J. Watt is a sack machine who’s been really good this season. He’s tied with Harold Landry for second in the league in sacks with 8.5 on the season. However, he’s two sacks behind the leader Myles Garrett, who’s been destroying the league all season. He has the capes and the graveyards to prove it.
This isn’t so much predicting that Garrett will be bad in the second half of the season, but this is predicting a massive heater from T.J. Watt. He’s only played six games this season, so if he continues on the pace he’s been on, he will have 22 sacks this season. He’s currently getting just under a sack and a half per game. Garrett is on pace to also get just over 22 sacks this season.
It will be a dog fight until the end, but Watt is going to get past Garrett with a three sack performance in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson won’t have a lot of time, and he might not even play the entire time. Does a sack count if it’s against Tyler Huntley?
Watt is going to destroy the league as the Steelers look to get legitimately into playoff contention. If the season ended today, the Steelers would be a six seed preparing to play the Ravens in the first round. If Watt continues on the path he is right now, that’s a very realistic trajectory.