Next time tell them TJ gets double teamed too, and it’s not just the Steelers that Garrett doesn’t show up for. Garrett might have had one sack the whole 2nd half of the season last year. So it’s not just the two game vs Pittsburgh… It’s also the final two months of the season of no production. Unless you count almost getting to the QB, which weirdly has become more important than actually getting to the QB.
The other argument I hear is that Garrett goes up against left tackles who are often left tackles because they are the other teams best lineman, and TJ goes up against right tackles. Well my counter is that Garrett has the benefit of coming in on most QBs blind side which should account for more sacks and certainly more strip sacks. QBs see Watt coming, yet TJ causes more turnovers than Garrett by far.
I’ll take the guy with more sacks, more fumbles caused, and more ints every year than the guy who almost gets to the QB. I’ve never seen a guy (Garrett) get more run for being almost good enough. And he won DPOY in a season that he no showed the entire back half of the season.