Giants' Brian Burns Disrespects Steelers' TJ Watt In Unbelievable Fashion
The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense did not start the 2025 season off on a great note. It was a rough first couple of games for the unit, but the group has improved week over week, with its best performances coming in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Now that the team is on a bye in Week 5, the coaching staff and players will be able to hit the film room to get a better sense of what needs to be improved upon throughout the course of a long stretch to end the campaign. One thing is certain, however, and it's that 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt is back to his normal self.
Despite being named the NFL's best defensive player just once, many Steelers fans believe that the future Hall of Fame edge rusher should have won the honor at least twice, and maybe three times by now. He is often forgotten about and disrespected when analysts, players and fans discuss the most dominant pass rushers in all of football. It doesn't make much sense because of how incredible he is when on the field.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz recently posted a quick teaser on his X page from an interview he had with New York Giants defender Brian Burns. On a recent episode of The Schultz Report
"No order, but me, I'd put [Nik] Bonitto in there, Micah [Parsons] hasn't, like, having hel*a sack numbers, but when I watch his tape, like, he's flying off the ball. I'd put Micah on there," Burns said. "I'm not sure if Maxx [Crosby] got off to a slow start, but the last game he had was crazy. Who else is up there right now? Oh my God, I'm tripping. Myles [Garrett]. I'm tripping."
One has to respect Burns' self confidence, but he has never had a season with over 13 sacks throughout his NFL career, and his best year with 12.5 came back in 2022. Nik Bonnito is another top-notch defender in the NFL, but is only four seasons into his young career. Watt continues to impress on a yearly basis, and hasn't let up in 2025. The four-time All-Pro has six quarterback hits, five tackles for loss and three sacks in four weeks. There's no doubt that he remains among the game's elite. He even has one interception this season as well.
Watt didn't even end up getting any kind of credit or shoutout from Burns, which is what has come to be expected. For some reason, there remains a lack of true respect for the Steelers' team captain no matter what kind of run he is on. The veteran is currently fourth on the active sack leaders list and was drafted in 2017. The three individuals above him were drafted no later than 2011.
There comes a time when Watt needs to earn the credit that is due and while he has slipped through the cracks in recent years for some unknown reason, he remains as one of the best pass rushers in all of football. Without him on the field, the Steelers' defense would be in a lot of trouble due to how much of a significant impact he truly has.
Steelers Will Continue To Rely On Watt's Dominance
Watt did go through a bit of a dry spell at the end of the 2024 campaign and in the first couple weeks of 2025, but he has once again reminded fans why he is so dominant. The Week 3 and Week 4 matchups saw him make big play after big play. He is still getting to the quarterback extremely often and someone who remains as a player that gets overlooked too many times in any given season.
Daniel Jones Breaks Top-10 Greatness with Colts
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has had a great start to his first year in the Circle City. Despite falling in a dramatic tilt against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4, his four-game sample with Shane Steichen has been unlike anything anyone expected before the season started.
Jones now sets his eyes on a golden opportunity to help the Colts return to the win column against the Las Vegas Raiders, who rank 21st in the NFL in passing yards allowed with 913. Given how well Jones has played, this is a game where he can shine.
Pro Football Focus' Nick Akridge put together his QB ranking ahead of Week 5, showing immense respect to Jones by placing him eighth overall. Jones is among names like Justin Herbert (9) and Josh Allen (7).
Below are some prominent quarterback metrics from Jones, along with his rank in the NFL for each. These numbers display how effective the former sixth-overall pick has been through four games with the Colts.
-Passing Yards | 1,078 (3rd)
-Completion Percentage | 71.9 (4th)
-Completions | 87 (tied - 9th)
-QBR | 79.1 (1st)
-Passer Rating | 103.3 (8th)
After six seasons of consistently underwhelming performances with the New York Giants, Steichen has Jones playing better than he's ever shown in his veteran career under center.
Jones' career resurgence is reminiscent of what Sam Darnold (now with the Seattle Seahawks) accomplished last year with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold's career was nothing short of a pure dumpster fire with the hapless New York Jets franchise.
However, once Darnold was under the tutelage of a true QB whisperer like Kevin O'Connell, he found incredible rhythm. Darnold finished 2024 with 35 touchdown passes, 4,319 passing yards, a 66.2 completion percentage, and a Pro Bowl nomination.
Now, Jones is doing the same with a QB-savvy coach like Steichen and Indianapolis.
For Jones to have gone from what he was perceived as in New York, to one of the NFL's most efficient quarterback is a testament to the talent he had the entire time, and Steichen's ability to mold those attributes into a great signal-caller.
If Jones can be as consistent as he's been through the young 2025 season for the rest of it, he'll conclude as a potential Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Jones has season totals of seven all-purpose scores (four passing, three rushing) and a great ability to spread the wealth in the offense.
Jones has become a great leader for Steichen's offense and has gelled with players like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren. Along with an impressive offensive line, Jones is playing comfortably, confidently, and like a winner.
Anything can happen in the NFL week-to-week, but Jones has a great matchup on paper ahead against the struggling Raiders at home. If he can get a victory while playing turnover-free and clean football, he'll regain the momentum the team lost against the Rams.
