In a primetime matchup featuring two NFL titans on the defensive side of the football between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, one star shone brightly and had a big impact, while the other struggled to make much noise and largely with a whimper went out. .

It seems fitting that the one who went out with a whimper was Steelers star pass rusher TJ Watt, while it was Cleveland’s Myles Garrett, who had some interesting comments leading up to Thursday night’s game, taking over the first half of the game and Cleveland helped lead. to a huge 24-19 victory over the Black and Gold.

For Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt, Watt’s quiet, impactless performance on a big stage during Thursday Night Football was “definitely” a nail in the coffin of Watt’s bid for his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Brandt appeared on GMFB Friday morning and expressed his frustration with Watt’s performance.

“I think TJ Watt definitely lost Defensive Player of the Year. I don’t think he’s going to win it now,” Brandt said, according to a video via NFL Network. “I know how voters think in such a national game. I think that’s over.”

It’s not wrong for Brandt to feel this way. National games provide stories for voters who might not be aware of specific teams and games week after week in the NFL, so the bar is raised in those primetime moments.

Watt didn’t show up Thursday night.

In the loss to the Browns, Watt had four tackles and a tackle for loss on a play in which he was unblocked on a read option and was able to crash and take down Browns RB Nick Chubb. However, as a pass rusher, Watt had no impact at all.

Granted, the Browns chipped him on every play and had a number of double teams on him, but that’s nothing new. The Steelers simply didn’t move him at all to try to avoid those chips or throw off the offensive scheme, just like the Browns did with Garrett.

There is still quite a bit of football to be played, and Watt is still a great player who is making a big impact week after week, but in a short week in another tough game against AFC North, this time in a snowstorm, Watt did not succeed . important play. It was disappointing to see, and as Brandt said, the national narrative for Watt being shaped in a big way in primetime, and that’s not a good story right now.