Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is known for making plays. It’s what he does, week in and week out. Last season, he racked up 16 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, and uncountable other quarterback pressures and minor disruptions. Not bad for a two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

The last time Watt lined up against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, he put them through the ringer. Watt left the field that day with two sacks and seven hits, and the Saints left with a 24-6 loss on their shoulders. Watt took time during the game to taunt the Saints and beg them to find better protection for Brees, because he likes him personally and didn’t enjoy hitting the future Hall of Famer so often.

So they did. The Saints went back to Watt’s own Alma mater and drafted one of his peers: former Wisconsin Badgers offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

In their Monday Night Football game, Ramczyk took his usual spot at right tackle, directly across from Watt, who has played from left end as well as anyone in NFL history. And Ramczyk shut him down.

Check the box score; you won’t find Watt listed with any stats. He didn’t sack Brees once or even lay hands on him throughout the game, largely thanks to Ramczyk’s efforts. In fact, Watt was unable to record one tackle or one quarterback hit for the first time in his 105 career games played, per NFL Research. Ramczyk neutralized him.

Sure, the Saints gave Ramczyk some help at times. Tight ends Jared Cook and Josh Hill occasionally threw a shoulder to chip Watt before he could run into Ramczyk early in the game, but the Saints coaching staff learned quickly he could handle that assignment on his own, and gave their tight ends new assignments.

The list of teams who can do that — trust a third-year pro to handle a pass rusher so talented they usually only come along two or three times a generation — is brief, and the Saints are at the top of it. This strong debut from Ramczyk defied even the highest expectations, and now it’s fair to wonder just how lofty his own career arc might soar.

Gallery Best photos from New Orleans Saints Week 1 win over Texans View 76 photos

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