Patrick Mahomes outlines TJ Watt threat ahead of Steelers clash

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has highlighted the multidimensional threat that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive powerhouse TJ Watt poses. The Chiefs face a critical matchup against the Steelers on Wednesday with the AFC’s top playoff seed hanging in the balance.

Mahomes, the Chiefs’ star signal caller, emphasized Watt’s disruptive abilities. The Steelers’ edge rusher leads the NFL with six forced fumbles and 18 tackles-for-loss this season, establishing himself as one of the league’s premier defenders.

The candid assessment came during Mahomes’ interview with Kay Adams for NFL on Netflix on Tuesday. The conversation ranged from holiday parties to his strategies against elite defenders like Watt.

“I’m just trying to stay as far away from him as I can,” Mahomes said. “In the offseason he’s a great guy, but when you’re on the field you just try to stay away from him because you want to make a play and he’s going to disrupt because he’s not just going for sacks, he’s going for strip sacks , he goes for interceptions, he’s one of the great players in the league.”

Watt’s impact extends beyond individual achievements. His leadership has propelled the Steelers to a league-leading 31 takeaways this season. Pittsburgh’s defense has maintained that momentum with at least one turnover in 11 straight games, including three or more takeaways in four of its last six outings.

Patrick Mahomes’ quick-strike offense aims to neutralize the Steelers’ pass rush

Kansas City’s game plan against elite pass rushers has paid off recently. Against Houston on Saturday, Patrick Mahomes displayed remarkable efficiency, posting a 118.2 passer rating on throws released under 2.5 seconds.

The Chiefs face their toughest test yet in Pittsburgh’s fearsome front. Watt headlines a formidable trio along with Cameron Heyward (8.0 sacks) and Alex Highsmith (6.0 sacks). Their combined pressure has pushed the Steelers to second in QB knockdowns with 60.

Kansas City enters this matchup as the only NFL team to go a five-game stretch without a turnover. That ball security will prove crucial against a Steelers unit that has converted 24.9% of their total points from takeaways — the third-highest rate in the league.

The Chiefs’ recent success against elite pass rushers — neutralizing both Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and Houston’s Danielle Hunter — offers hope. Still, Watt’s versatile skill set presents a challenge unlike any other in their pursuit of the AFC’s top seed.