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T.J. Watt reaches NFL milestone only achieved by Lawrence Taylor

DSprofileby: Dustin Schutte10/24/23DLS1066206

T.J. Watt joined elite company over the weekend. According to NFL Research, the Steelers linebacker has now accomplished something only one other player has achieved. That player? Lawrence Taylor.

Per the league’s research team, Watt and Taylor are the only players in NFL history to record at least seven interceptions and 70 sacks in their first seven seasons.

Watt hauled in his seventh career pick in Pittsburgh’s 24-17 win over the Rams on Sunday. The linebacker has piled up 85.5 career sacks, as well.

Through his first seven years in the NFL, Taylor racked up 83 sacks and eight interceptions. Watt has already surpassed the former Giants star’s sack total and, with 11 games remaining, as an opportunity to exceed the interception total, as well.

In six games this season, Watt has accounted for 16 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. It’s pretty safe to say that the linebacker is well on his way to a sixth-straight Pro Bowl selection.

Steelers WR George Pickens says Rams antagonized him

Trash talk is pretty common across the NFL. So, when Steelers wide receiver George Pickens says multiple Rams defenders attempted to get in his head on Sunday, it’s not particularly surprising. But the second-year star out of Georgia obviously didn’t allow it to faze him.

Pickens explained that Rams defensive backs were “antagonizing” him throughout Sunday’s game. It was an effort to throw the receiver off of his game.

“I felt like, personally, a game like this showed me they’re kind of looking for me to kind of mess up and guys are antagonizing me more because today is the first time I’d seen anything like that,” Pickens said, per the team’s website. “Guys really trying to get me out of the game or get under my skin deliberately.” 

Poor strategy from Los Angeles. Pickens hauled in five receptions for 107 yards and Pittsburgh secured a 24-17 victory to improve to 4-2 on the year. The Rams dropped to 3-4.

At one point in the second half, Pickens was flagged for taunting — an in-your-face moment from the receiver.

“They were just saying to stay in it because, in the moment, you can’t spiral out because then the result can be different,” Pickens said. “But they were just saying to stay in it.”

Through the first six games, Pickens has emerged as Pittsburgh’s top receiver — by a wide margin. He has totaled 27 catches for 500 yards and two touchdowns. Nobody else on the roster has more than 165 receiving yards this season.