Myles Garrett, an edge rusher for the Cleveland Browns, defeated outside linebacker T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers by a slim margin to take home the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. It’s a victory not just for Garrett but also for those who approach the game with a highly analytical mindset.

Unquestionably, Garrett had an incredible season playing on one of the top defences in the NFL. The fact that Garrett didn’t have the most dominant season statistically is what strikes out the most about the voting, though. Not in terms of the more conventional counting stats that football fans are used to.

In fact, Watt recorded more quarterback hits, sacks, forced fumbles, tackles for loss, and even a score by the end of the season. That kind of performance would have guaranteed him the DPOY in previous years.

However, respondents found Garrett to be significantly more dominant in terms of a number of advanced metrics, most notably his pass-rush win rate as determined by PFF, which helped him stand out in their eyes. Garrett’s ability to regularly outplay those attempting to block him earned him a reputation as one of the best defenders according to PFF’s stats.

Although it didn’t always lead to sacks or pressure on the quarterback, it did make Garrett’s season more widely discussed.

Due to a deluge of fresh data, our assessment of games and players has drastically evolved during the last ten years. Depending on how much weight you give those figures—and which team you root for—you can determine whether or not that is a good thing.

Both guys were excellent in Garrett vs. Watt’s debate. At worst, they were two of the top three defensive backs in football. They were also the winners in several other categories. For the third time, Watt led the league in sacks while also possessing the conventional stats. Garrett excelled in the unnoticed statistics that aren’t usually given much attention by the general public. That will most likely change after his win this season, and it might even permanently alter the way we view awards.