This week in the NFL marked a huge step forward to getting all three Watt brothers to the playoffs
With the Chargers, Texans and Steelers all recording wins over the past few days, we’re a few steps closer to seeing all three Watt brothers in the forthcoming NFL postseason, and it seems likely at least two of the Pewaukee triumvirate would face off once they get there.
The one team that has locked up a playoff spot is Derek Watt’s Los Angeles Chargers. The fullback and his cohorts are now 11-3 after an impressive win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, 29-28. Those teams are now tied for first place in the AFC West and will be battling it out for not just the divisional crown but also home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. At the moment, the Chiefs have a better record in divisional games by one game, so they’d have the tiebreaker edge.
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But sitting just as pretty for a playoff spot is JJ Watt and Houston. The Texans are now 10-4, and they need only one win in the final two games of the season to clinch the AFC South. Houston sits two games ahead of the Colts and Titans. Houston has split with both teams in the regular season, but it’ll be favored to win at Philadelphia or at home against Jacksonville to sew up the division crown.
JJ was a monster in Houston’s win over the New York Jets on Saturday, 29-22. He finished with 2½ sacks and a forced fumble.
Pittsburgh and TJ Watt have the most tenuous playoff position of the three, but the Steelers got a massive win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, 17-10, and lead their division. Pittsburgh has a narrow edge in the AFC North with an 8-5-1 record, just ahead of Baltimore (8-6). If the Steelers can’t hold off the Ravens, they’d be battling with the Colts (8-6), Titans (8-6) and Miami Dolphins (7-7) for the final wild-card spot.
If the season ended today, the Texans would get a first-round bye and would await the top-remaining seed. The Steelers would be seeded fourth and the Chargers fifth, meaning TJ and Derek would square off in the wild-card round.
The Chargers should get former Kenosha Bradford and University of Wisconsin standout Melvin Gordon back from injury next week after he missed three games.
JJ played in the playoffs in 2011, 2012 and 2015, and TJ saw action in a playoff game last year after his rookie season. Derek has never been to the playoffs with the Chargers, which last made the trip in 2013.