Watt moved to Miami while Quinn went on injured reserve, leaving the job up for grabs. But not without a fight as veteran linebackers Brian Cushing and Whitney Mercilus duked it out in practice this week.
The “all time sack leaders” is a list of the top ten players in NFL history with the most sacks. T.J. Watt and Robert Quinn have entered Michael Strahan’s orbit for the record, but it will be tough to beat him.
Michael Strahan has a long history of breaking records. By becoming the first retired NFL player to go into space on Dec. 11, the former New York Giants defensive lineman carved his name in more than just football history.
But, although Strahan flew 66 miles into the sky, he is gradually having a difficulty back on Big Blue. Strahan, who once went where no defensive player had gone before by setting the NFL record with 22.5 sacks in a single season in 2001, now finds himself under attack from a pair of guys.
Robert Quinn of the Chicago Bears moved into second place this season with 16 total sacks after his two sacks on Monday night. However, it is the leader, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end T.J. Watt, who is the most likely to win this race, with 17.5 sacks through three games.
With 112 sacks on Sunday, Watt has already etched his name into the Steelers record book. Watt and Quinn are now focusing their efforts on the steely-eyed missile guy.
Two players are within striking approach of breaking Strahan’s record after 20 years.
Joe Sargent/Getty Images/T.J. Watt
With 112 sacks on Sunday, Watt has already etched his name into the Steelers record book.
Watt’s half-sack against the Tennessee Titans in the second quarter sent him over the top of the Steelers’ all-time single-season sack record, breaking a tie with James Harrison from 2008 to take over the lead with 1612 sacks.
Watt then added a complete sack later in the game to close the gap on Strahan’s record to five with three games remaining.
“With the storied franchise we have here, it’s a fantastic achievement,” Watt remarked after the Steelers’ triumph. “I have so much work to accomplish that I can’t afford to worry about things like that.” It’s all about tradition here, and being able to leave your mark as part of that heritage is something amazing.
“I understand it’s a personal aim. I’m not a huge fan of individual accomplishments. But the fact that I’m doing it with such a great bunch of men is what it’s all about. It’s incredibly amazing to be able to be a part of this franchise, hopefully for a long time. But I still have a lot of work to do.”
Quinn surpassed Richard Dent’s single-season sack record of 1712 set by the Bears in 1984. Quinn’s attempt to break the franchise record, and potentially Strahan’s, is one of the few reasons Bears supporters are interested in the season’s last three games.
Quinn said after the Bears’ 4-10 defeat on Monday, “It’s nice company to be in, to put it that way.” “It’s simply difficult to rejoice when you’re not doing well as a team.”
Given the manner in which Strahan obtained the record in 2001, Bears supporters may not be the only ones hoping for it to collapse.
Strahan’s track record has always been shaky, thanks to Brett Favre’s role in helping him establish it.
Was Michael Strahan’s record-breaking sack in 2001 a blatant failure by Brett Favre, as we discussed on the podcast today? pic.twitter.com/olXKIIf4Td
June 29, 2020 — Bleeding Blue: Giants History Podcast (@Bleeding Blue)
Strahan’s voyage into space was an achievement that the whole human race could be proud of. In 2001, did you set the single-season sack record? From the minute Strahan placed his hands on Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre to establish the record, sports fans have been split.
Strahan was only a half-sack below the record of 22 sacks set by New York Jets defensive end Mark Gastineau, he of the relived sack-dance, in the 16th and last game of the 2001 season.
Strahan came within a sack of breaking the record in the season’s last game, earning 312 sacks against the Eagles to bring his season total to 211. Strahan did not register any sacks in the opening 57 minutes of the game against Favre’s Packers. With 2:46 left in the game and a 34-25 advantage, it looked doubtful that Strahan would receive any more opportunities, as the Packers might just run out the time on the ground.
On that first down, though, Favre not only dropped back to throw, but he also turned toward Strahan’s side of the field. Favre turtled to the ground when tight end Bubba Franks let Strahan to get through him unblocked, allowing Strahan to tag him down for the record-setting sack.
The single-season sack record had been broken. However, the mark was eternally stained by what seemed to be a Favre (and Franks) set-up to ensure Strahan got the last sack. Sure, it’s a wonderful gesture. That isn’t how records are intended to function, however. The pitch to Hank Aaron was not thrown underhanded by Al Downing. For any of Wayne Gretzky’s records, no goaltender gave up the net. It seemed shabby and unjustifiable.
What Watt and Quinn had to leave off their schedules in order to set the record
Watt and Quinn each have personal milestones in the way of breaking Strahan’s record. Watt is likely more focused on surpassing his brother J.J.’s record of 12 sacks, which he set twice with the Houston Texans in 2012 and 2014.
Quinn’s goal is considerably more personal. He’s aiming to break his own personal record of 19 sacks, which he achieved with the St. Louis Rams in 2013.
Quinn has the most difficult road ahead of the two. In Week 16, the Bears face the Seattle Seahawks, who have allowed the sixth-most sacks in the league. The Bears’ last two games, ironically, are against the Giants and the Vikings. Both teams sit in the bottom three in terms of sacks allowed, however the 30th-ranked Vikings allowed Quinn to sack Kirk Cousins twice Monday night, extending his six-game run of at least one sack.
Based on the Steelers’ last two opponents, Watt has a great shot. Watt faces the 11th-ranked Cleveland Browns in Week 17, then the Baltimore Ravens, who have allowed the most sacks in the NFL this season, at just under four per game, after playing the 26th-ranked Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16.
Pro Football Reference provided the statistics.
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The “tj watt” is a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers and has been making waves in the NFL. Watt recently joined Robert Quinn, who also plays for the Steelers, to break Michael Strahan’s record of 22 sacks in a season.
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