Steel City Underground presents our 2025 Plays of the Year series: a weekly rewind through the biggest moments, breakout performances, and unforgettable highlights from last season’s Pittsburgh Steelers campaign.
In Week 3 of the 2025 NFL regular season, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense created several opportunities for their game against the New England Patriots to become a blowout. Although there were still struggles, the defense did improve in taking advantage of miscues and mistakes made by a Patriots offense that won the time of possession game.
While there were a handful of plays to choose from, T.J. Watt‘s two sacks of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye rose to the top of our list for the week.
Watt entered the contest on a sackless streak that stretched back into last season. That afternoon, Watt looked reenergized on the left edge. Despite teams accounting for him, including New England, Watt was actively seeking the ball and setting up opportunities to get into the offensive backfield.
Watt’s first sack came in the second quarter after what initially looked like a Chuck Clark interception of Drake Maye was ruled an incomplete pass. On 2nd & 6 at the PIT 48, Watt was able to corral Maye for a loss of seven yards.
Thanks to a heads-up play by Jabrill Peppers on a third quarter play, Watt was able to recover the forced fumble. And, Watt recovered another fumble when fellow linebacker Nick Herbig got home, stripping Maye, in the fourth quarter.
We’ll take that 😏
📺: #PITvsNE on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/d1b2EhI2A1
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 21, 2025
Leading 21-14, the Steelers defense was tasked with finishing the game strong and keep the Patriots out of the end zone late in the fourth quarter. On 1st & 10 at the PIT 37, Maye took the snap from shotgun and Watt undercut his blocker. With forward pressure being applied by Cameron Heyward, Watt was able to bring Maye down from behind for a loss of 3 and the down.
T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense had quite the day with 5 sacks (2 by Watt), 4 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 1 near-interception against the Patriots pic.twitter.com/HNa494TXOW
— Christina Rivers (@3Rivers_Writer) September 21, 2025
Three plays later, the Steelers defense forced the turnover on downs when Brandin Echols stopped Demario Douglas for a negative pass play. That allowed the offense to enter victory formation and secure the win.
Check back each week as we continue spotlighting the plays that defined the Steelers’ 2025 season — one moment at a time.