TJ Watt Favored as Top Pick for NFL Defensive Player of the Year

 

AARON RODGERS AND DAVANTE ADAMS REUNITE AS NEW YORK JETS VISIT T.J. WATT AND PITTSBURGH STEELERS IN SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 7 MATCHUP ON NBC, PEACOCK AND UNIVERSO

Published October 16, 2024 03:15 PM

Coverage Begins with FNIA at 7 p.m. ET; Followed by 8:20 p.m. ET Kickoff

 

Sunday Marks Expected Jets Debut of Three-Time All-Pro WR Davante Adams

 

Super Bowl XLVIII Champion and Nine-Time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson “In Consideration” to Make Steelers Debut on Sunday

 

NFL Sundays Begin and End on Peacock with Exclusive Coverage Featuring Fantasy Football Pregame with Matthew Berry at 11 a.m. ET and Peacock Sunday Night Football Final Immediately After Each SNF Game

 

STAMFORD, Conn. – Oct. 16, 2024 – The Jets, led by four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, who is expected to make his New York Jets debut this weekend, visit 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Week 7 edition of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with Football Night in America, followed by kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET from Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on NBC, Peacock and Universo.

 

Sunday marks Adams’ debut in the green and white after being traded from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, as well as a reunion with former Packers teammate Rodgers. During eight seasons together in Green Bay, the duo formed one of the most prolific quarterback-receiver combos in NFL history, connecting 622 times for 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns. Adams has caught more passes from Rodgers than any receiver.

 

The Jets fell to the Buffalo Bills, 23-20, on Monday night. Rodgers threw for a season-high 294 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yard Hail Mary to Allen Lazard at the end of the first half. Lazard and 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson combined for 221 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while running back Breece Hall had 169 yards from scrimmage (113 rushing, 56 receiving). On the defensive side, defensive end Will McDonald IV leads the AFC in sacks (7.0).

 

The Steelers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders, 32-13, on the road last weekend. Watt, a five-time All-Pro linebacker, continued his hot start to the season with five tackles, including two forced fumbles, one of which was at the goal-line. Additionally, running back Najee Harris rushed for 106 yards and a score, while QB Justin Fields threw for 145 yards and ran for 59 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Super Bowl XLVIII champion and nine-time Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson, who has been sidelined with a calf injury, is “in consideration” to make his Steelers debut on Sunday, Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday.

 

New York and Pittsburgh meet for the 28th time on Sunday, including the postseason, with the Steelers holding a 20-7 advantage in the all-time series. During his tenure in Green Bay, Rodgers overlapped in the NFC North for two seasons (2021-2022) with Fields while he was in Chicago and has a perfect 4-0 record against him. Additionally, Rodgers won his lone Super Bowl ring and MVP against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV during the 2010 season.

 

Calling Jets-Steelers is Mike Tirico (play-by-play); Cris Collinsworth (analyst); and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter). Three-time Super Bowl referee Terry McAulay is the Sunday Night Football rules analyst.

 

NBC’s coverage of Sunday Night Football is led by coordinating producer Rob Hyland and director Drew Esocoff. SNF has won a record 11 Sports Emmys for Outstanding Live Sports Series. Sam Flood is Executive Producer & President, NBC Sports Production. Fred Gaudelli is executive producer of NBC Sports’ NFL coverage.

 

Football Night in America is hosted by Maria Taylor and features former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty, and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, as well as Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy, two-time Super Bowl champion Rodney Harrison, NFL insider Mike Florio, fantasy sports industry pioneer Matthew Berry, and co-host Jac Collinsworth. Collinsworth, Dungy, and Harrison will report on-site from Acrisure Stadium.

 

Football Night, the most-watched studio show in sports since its debut in 2006, begins every Sunday at 7 p.m. ET. The coordinating producer of FNIA is Matt Casey. FNIA is directed by Kaare Numme.

 

Peacock Sunday Night Football Final, an NFL post-game show produced by NBC Sports, streams exclusively on Peacock following every Sunday Night Football game during the 2024 season. The show is hosted from the game site by Jac Collinsworth, Harrison, and Dungy, who will provide instant reactions to each Sunday game along with highlights and interviews, while Berry will host a weekly segment called “DraftKings Crowning Moments,” where the fantasy sports analyst will discuss his successful bets from that day; he will also provide fantasy advice and an early look at the waiver wire. Football Night in America’s studio team will also provide recaps and insights into the day’s biggest moments, while Florio will provide injury and news updates.