Watt finished the 2023 season with more sacks (19 to 14) and tackles (68 to 42), while Garrett generated more pressures (79 to 70) and led the NFL’s top-rated defense.

Garrett took issue with another star player commenting on his award.

“I’ve never complained about the trophy not being in my house and vice versa,” he said. “He shouldn’t be feeling two ways about it going to me. So, I’m just going to play the game, I don’t play against T.J., he doesn’t play against me. But we have a plan to go out and do what we’re supposed to, win the game and dominate on defense. But it’s up for grabs this year, and we’ll see the best man win.”

For his part, Watt didn’t inflame the situation this week, but also didn’t sound like he had any plans to apologize.

“I have respect for everybody in the league. Obviously, he’s a guy who has been a top pass rusher in the league for a long time,” Watt said, via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “But I don’t compete directly against him. It’s our team versus their team, and at the end of the day, I just want the Pittsburgh Steelers to come out with a win.”

The back-and-forth between the star pass rushers adds some intensity to Thursday’s division game between the 8-2 Steelers and 2-8 Browns.

“Absolutely,” Garrett said when asked if it adds extra motivation for Thursday night. “Two of the very best in the same division, play each other twice a year and fans hate each other. That kind of stuff gets you excited and I know we both feel it and get a little bit juiced up for the matchup.”