NFL Houston Texans

Making the Case For J.J. Watt As NFL MVP

Fresh Videos

By @Alex_Drude

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

“Most Valuable Player” does not mean “Most Popular.” If the NFL remembers that, then the Houston Texans’ J.J. Watt ought to be an easy choice for MVP. Of course he’s popular, but your mom doesn’t know who he is. She knows who Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are, so he’s not on that level quite yet.

“Most Valuable” means the player who made the biggest difference on his team. Without Watt, the Texans are not contending for a playoff spot. The Texans went 9-7 with the offense averaging 344.6 yards per game, 17th in the league. The Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons had a better offense, yardage-wise, than the Texans. But the Redskins and Falcons combined only had one more win than Houston. That means the Houston defense had to step up, and they did, allowing just 307 points the entire season; and no defensive player had more of an impact than Watt.

Watt had a phenomenal season, of course highlighted by his 20.5 sacks to become the first player with multiple 20-sack seasons. His 78 tackles were highest among any defensive lineman and 84th overall, tied with Seattle safety Kam “Bam” Chancellor. He forced four fumbles, also a defensive lineman high and tied for third in the league. In doing so, he became the Texans’ career leader in sacks and forced fumbles.

As for his three receiving touchdowns, it really seemed like the Texans used Watt as a legitimate option on the goal line and not as part of a gimmick package. Although every time he lined up at tight end they threw it to him. (Seriously, every time! And it was a touchdown every time!)

But wait, it gets better. With five total touchdowns — adding the great 80-yard interception return and 45-yard fumble recovery — Watt is the first defensive lineman to have five touchdowns since 1944, and it’s first time since 1948 that somebody had at least three offensive TDs and two defensive scores in a season. He’s also the only player in the last five years to have a forced fumble, fumble recovery and receiving touchdown in the same game, and he did it in two games.

What the numbers don’t tell you is almost more important. 20.5 sacks are an awful lot, but consider how many more he would have had if defensive coordinators hadn’t double and triple-teamed him week after week. He changed entire gameplans. Defensive coordinators would name Watt “MDP” (Most Disruptive Player) in a heartbeat.

If you just concentrate on the numbers you miss the true impact of Watt on the season. Without him, the Texans are an afterthought. Instead, they almost made the playoffs. That’s why Watt should win league MVP — whether your mom knows who he is yet or not.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on