Houston Texans superstar defensive lineman JJ Watt didn’t have a sack in his first two games, but he’s been viciously punishing quarterbacks again.
JJ Watt is one of the most dominant NFL players of this generation, and there are specific plays where he reminds fans why there’s simply nobody else like him. A rare athlete with his explosiveness and raw power, Watt is a machine whose motor never stops running, and he has a one-track mind when he’s gunning for a quarterback.
Carolina Panthers backup passer Kyle Allen got to witness Watt’s power firsthand in his team’s Week 4 matchup with the Houston Texans. Allen had an excellent first start for an injured Cam Newton in Week 3, but he was finding it a little more difficult to move the ball against Watt and the Texans offense.
And this strip-sack by Watt on Allen was ridiculous.
Now 30 years old, Watt is still going strong. That sack of Allen now gives him three sacks in his last two games and two fumble recoveries in the four-game season thus far. Watt’s first step was excellent on this play, and his strength was not even human. Carolina’s right tackle stood no chance, and yet the rush itself wasn’t even the best part of the play.
How on earth did Watt manage to reach to knock the ball out of Allen’s hands and then hustle to recover his own fumble like that? The agility, awareness, and strength it took for Watt to complete this play were off the charts, but, well, that’s almost what’s expected from a living legend like him.
Watt had four tackles and two QB hits through three quarters against Allen and the Panthers, and that fumble recovery was the Texans third of the game. Yet the Panthers were still tied 10-10, thanks to another strong game as a rusher and receiver from star running back Christian McCaffrey on the Carolina side.