He Turned Down The Watt!

T.J. Watt is a formidable defender. The 6-time Pro Bowler, 4-time All Pro and the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year entered the game with 11 ½ sacks and this time around against the Steelers, the Ravens would be tasked with not only handling Watt, but also his bookend edge defender Alex Highsmith who had been on a roll since returning from injury. Add it up and the task was clear yet daunting. Rookie RT Roger Rosengarten was going to have to do his best to prevent Watt from wrecking the game for the Ravens offense.

Rosengarten was up to the challenge!

Watt lined up across from Rosengarten during 48 snaps during which the former Wisconsin Badger was only able to produce a single solo tackle while assisting on three others. That solo tackle didn’t come until the 10:57 mark of the second quarter. His first assisted tackle was registered at the 13:45 mark of the 3rd quarter on an 11-yard run by Derrick Henry while assists two and three came at the 7:20 and 6:38 marks of the 4th quarter on two more Henry runs of 5 and 4 yards, respectively, as the Ravens tried to take the air out of the ball leading 31-17.

Rosengarten prevented Watt from touching Lamar Jackson. No sacks, no QB hits, not one single pressure for the Steelers dominant edge rusher. Rosengarten’s efforts went a long way towards enabling the offense to churn and burn through the Steelers 9th-ranked defense for 418 yards. Coming into the game the Steelers had allowed just 316 yards on average.

TJ Watt was probably somewhat limited by a sore ankle but big time props to @roger_73r for a very solid 2024 so far, including this great game v. the perennial All Pro. When is the last time you can say Watt didn’t make a single impactful play v. #Ravens? Video c/o @ryanmink pic.twitter.com/aXxuObCzOu

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) December 22, 2024

When GM Eric DeCosta turned in the card during the 2024 NFL Draft with the name Roger Rosengarten on it, many, me included, dismissed the pick and thought it was a reach for need. But this former Washington Husky has proven me wrong, and I hope he continues to do so.

This week’s Big Crab Cake courtesy of Jimmy’s Famous Seafood is the 22-year-old tackle from Colorado who know proudly wears No. 70 for the Baltimore Ravens, and will hopefully do so for many years to come.

[Related Article: The Good, Bad & Ugly, Ravens v. Steelers]

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