The Pittsburgh Steelers will play their first AFC playoff game in over 20 years without Ben Roethlisberger as the starting quarterback. The last Steelers quarterback who was not wearing number seven during a playoff game was Tommy Maddox in 2002. Maddox supplied one of the most incredible playoff victories in Steelers' history with a 36-33 victory over the Cleveland Browns before they fell the following week to the Tennessee Titans in another 34-31 thriller.
Matt Rourke / Associated Press
Steelers' Mason Rudolph overcame sloppy weather conditions and poor officiating to deliver a 17-10 victory.
After Kenny Pickett was injured, Mike Tomlin was forced to turn to Mason Rudolph after Mitch Trubisky shrank from the opportunity to revive his career. Rudolph, conversely, embraced the moment, and after three weeks and three wins, the black and gold will play the Buffalo Bills at 1 pm ET on Sunday in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs.
On Monday, Ed Bouchette, the long-time Steelers beat writer, joined The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller. Bouchette, Andrew Fillipponi, and Chris Mueller took turns praising Rudolph. The conversation took a wild detour when they began discussing the absence of TJ Watt. Fillipponi reminded Bouchette that the absence of the NFL sack leader put a damper on the celebration.
Sarah Schneider / Post-Gazette
Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette would choose Mason Rudolph over TJ Watt.
A moment later, Mueller took it a step further and posed a hypothetical to the former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter. He asked if Pittsburgh would rather have the actual situation at hand, Rudolph at quarterback and play the game without the former Defensive Player of the Year, or if he would prefer to have a healthy Watt and start Kenny Pickett in Buffalo on Sunday. The answer is stunning.
“I’d go with the actual right now,” Bouchette responded. “Look, TJ Watt is tremendous, but he ain't a quarterback. The quarterback is number one.”
Since Watt joined the club in 2017, the Steelers have won one game in 11 tries when he has not played. Last season, when he missed seven games, Pittsburgh lost six of seven games, including a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills. The last time Watt played against the Bills, the Steelers beat them in the opening game of the 2021 season behind two Watt sacks and a forced fumble.
Rich Barnes / USA TODAY Sports
Steelers' T.J. Watt (#90) knocks the ball away from Bills QB Josh Allen (#17) in 2021.
It is mind-boggling that a close observer of the team would select the quarterback who started the season third on the depth chart over the best defensive player on the planet. Bouchette briefly expounded on his reasoning and doubled down on his take.
“Mason Rudolph’s playing like a good quarterback right now,” Bouchette continued. "I’m going to take that one.”
The current state of the NFL favors the offense and the quarterback specifically. A top-notch signal-caller in the current game is more valuable on any given Sunday than virtually any player on both sides of the ball. The Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reid would not choose any other player on the roster over Patrick Mahomes. The Bills would not choose any other player over Josh Allen. A franchise quarterback is worth his weight in gold.
The idea that Rudolph ascended to that level after two very good performances and one rain-soaked roller coaster ride is ridiculous. The Steelers' offense has looked much more competent with Rudolph at the helm, but the reality is that for most of the last two seasons, the Pittsburgh coaching staff preferred Pickett. That judgment may have been flawed, but choosing Rudolph over Watt?
Steelers' TJ Watt Has A Unique Opportunity To Prove He Is The League MVP
Watt has arguably more impact on the game than any non-quarterback in the NFL. A strong case could be made that instead of Defensive Player Of The Year, he should be receiving MVP votes. The current state of the Steelers' defense relies heavily on Watt's playmaking ability. It was suggested earlier this season that Tomlin and Teryl Austin's defensive scheme amounted to keeping games close and hope Watt makes a play.
Charles LeClaire / USA TODAY Sports
Steelers safety tandem of Damontae Kazee and Minkah Fitzpatrick could return in the Wild Card round of the AFC playoffs.
The Steelers are without their top two inside linebackers. They have tried everyone short of Troy Polamalu at safety since Minkah Fitzpatrick was injured for the second time this season and Damontae Kazee was suspended. They will likely have both players back for Sunday's game in Buffalo. As presently constructed, the defense relies heavily on Watt and Alex Highsmith to get pressure. Nick Herbig and Markus Golden will have huge shoes to fill on Sunday.
Rudolph should start over Pickett, all things being equal. Steeler Nation would prefer both Rudolph and Watt on the field on Sunday in Buffalo. It isn't going to happen, so fans have to hope for the best. It might just be hypothetical for Bouchette, but no real or imagined world has ever existed where choosing Rudolph over Watt is the right answer for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Would you ever choose any of the quarterbacks on the current roster over the best defensive player on the planet? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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