Steelers stock up, stock down after win over Seahawks: T.J. Watt makes case for Defensive Player of the Year

We’re not quite at Halloween, but that didn’t deter T.J. Watt from dressing up on Sunday night. Watt put on his Superman cape in overtime, forcing two sacks that included a strip-sack that set up Chris Boswell’s game-winning field goal. By virtue of their 23-20 win over the visiting Seahawks, the Steelers are now 3-3 as they head into their Week 7 bye. Not only have they caught the Browns (3-3), the Steelers are in striking distance of the second-place Bengals (4-2) and first place Ravens (5-1) in the AFC North standings. 

For a second straight week, the Steelers enjoyed a sizable lead before having to withstand a gallant second-half comeback by the opposition. Pittsburgh led Seattle 14-0 halftime and were up 17-7 with under six minutes left in the third quarter before the Seahawks scored 13 of the game’s next 16 points to force overtime. But as they did the previous week against the Broncos, the Steelers came up with just enough plays late in the game to come away with a win. Watt led Pittsburgh’s defensive charge, while the Steelers’ offense received another solid performance from rookie running back Najee Harris, who tallied 127 total yards and a touchdown on 30 touches. 

Here’s a look at the Steelers whose stock went up and whose stock went down following their Week 6 win over Seattle. 

Stock up: T.J. Watt 

Watt has more than justified his new contract that has made him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. Watt finished Sunday night’s game with seven tackles (three tackles for loss) to go with his two sacks in overtime. The first sack was a third-down tackle of Seattle quarterback Geno Smith that forced a punt. On Seattle’s first play of their next drive, Watt fought through a double-team before finding his way to Smith, who began to take off down the middle of the field. Watt’s hit caused a fumble that was scooped up by Devin Bush, thus setting up Boswell’s game-winning field…