Wednesday afternoon turned into a fun battle when host Pat McAfee asked the future Hall of Famer and current CBS analyst, J.J. Watt that which game he would be calling this weekend. Watt replied, “This weekend, I have the Browns at the Steelers, AFC North Battle.” And with a smile, he later added, “It’s his( T.J.Watt) birthday Saturday, so I’m looking forward to seeing him on his birthday.”

The banter added a touch of humor to the broadcast. J.J. Watt’s “birthday present” just happens to place him behind the mic for one of T.J.’s biggest games of the year. Alongside his CBS partner Ian Eagle, J.J. will be on the call for the Steelers-Browns matchup, marking the third time in six weeks he’s covered one of his brother’s games.

He previously called Pittsburgh’s season opener against the Jets and their Week 3 matchup with the Patriots. However, this will mark his first time calling a Steelers home game, and the timing couldn’t be better.

Of course, McAfee didn’t let the coincidence slide without teasing his guest. “Birthday game for T.J. Watt — got to take that into account for sure,” he joked. Then, in typical McAfee fashion, he asked, “Does he play better when you’re there?” Watt laughed and responded, “I mean, last game he had, the Patriots game, he had two sacks. First game wasn’t great.”

Going into that Patriots game, T.J. Watt had not recorded a sack in his last six games. He snapped the streak in style by sacking quarterback Drake Maye twice, once during the first quarter.

J.J. also spoke of not being able to wait to see his brother, but Browns pass-rushing icon Myles Garrett as well. “It’s always fun watching great players,” he said, tipping his cap to the defensive star talent of this matchup.

This is not the first time that J.J. spoke with such fondness for his brother. Last year, when T.J. and his wife Dani announced their first pregnancy, the big brother went all out to congratulate his younger brother. Before the Week 3 game, during the Sunday warm-up interview, J.J. gave a special ‘dad’ jersey to T.J.

“I know you’re trying to get in that right headspace, I know you and Dani just announced that you guys are pregnant and expecting your first child,” J.J. said. “Me personally, knowing what that ‘why’ means and knowing how important that is, I wanted to give you a little gift before you head back into the locker room to say congratulations on your new child, and wish you guys all the best.”

The Steelers return from bye week after their trip to Dublin, where they beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-21. And with supporters in their wake, the Watt brothers’ reunion on and off the air provides yet another spark to what already is one of the NFL’s all-time greatest rivalries.

Along with his birthday, T.J.Watt can achieve something special this weekend, registering his name in history forever.

 T.J. Watt nears a historic milestone

The Steelers captain is in touching distance of a piece of NFL history to be claimed by very few defensive legends.

If things keep trending the way they are, T.J. Watt could soon find himself in truly elite NFL company and might even surpass it.

With his interception against Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings, Watt joined a short list of defenders boasting at least 100 career sacks and eight interceptions. A group that includes legends like Lawrence Taylor, Jason Taylor, Chris Doleman, Richard Dent, and Rickey Jackson.

Currently sitting at 111 sacks and eight interceptions, Watt has recorded at least one pick in all but three of his NFL seasons, including two-interception campaigns in both 2019 and 2022.

Now, he’s just three interceptions away from joining Julius Peppers as the only player in league history to record over 100 sacks and 10 interceptions. Peppers retired with 11, and at this pace, Watt could soon match or surpass him.

Watt is three interceptions away from being the only player aside from Hall of Fame great Julius Peppers to have more than 100 career sacks and 10 career interceptions, according to Steelers Depot. Peppers had 159.5 sacks and 11 interceptions at the conclusion of his playing career.

With the Steelers requiring their fourth win of the season and T.J. in his journey into unfamiliar statistical territory, the contest this Saturday against the Browns is more than divisional real estate.