Hall of Famer Michael Irvin blasts J.J. Watt for the Texans not winning

NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin blasted Texans star J.J. Watt for his team's lack of on-field success. Click through the gallery to relive the greatest games of Watt's career. NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin blasted Texans star J.J. Watt for his team's lack of on-field success. Click through the gallery to relive the greatest games of Watt's career. Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Hall of Famer Michael Irvin blasts J.J. Watt for the Texans not winning 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

The NFL Network finished unveiling its annual Top 100 this week, with the league's players ranking their peers.

For most, it would seem to be just another poll.

RELATED: J.J. Watt ranks third on NFL Network's Top 100

For NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin, the Hall of Fame receiver who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s, it apparently was a little more important.

On the network's obligatory show reacting to the poll, Irvin took umbrage with Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly coming in seventh, four spots below Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, who dropped to third this year after being No. 1 in 2015.

Irvin, no stranger to being passionate on the air, seemed to go unhinged in a fiery debate with analysts and former NFL cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Eric Davis while making his case for why Kuechly should be ranked ahead of Watt .

Irvin's basis for taking Kuechly over Watt appears to be the Panthers enjoying more success than the Texans. Carolina was an NFL-best 15-1 last season and made it to the Super Bowl while Houston won the AFC South with a 9-7 record and was shut out in embarrassing fashion at home by Kansas City in the wild-card round.

"I tell people all the time that defense doesn't win championships," Irvin said. "It's the turnovers and the scoring defense that wins championships. Luke Kuechly, he scores touchdowns on interceptions. He doesn't have to go on offense to score. He scores (from) his main position.

"I don't want to just see you raise your hand and you playing great. I want to see you make others play great. That's what Luke Kuechly does."

For the record, counting the regular season and playoffs, Watt and Kuechly each have scored three defensive touchdowns in their careers.

Davis and Taylor both stepped in to defend Watt. Taylor noted that Carolina didn't miss a beat while Kuechly was out with a concussion, while Watt hasn't missed a game for the Texans despite playing through five different torn muscles last season.

Irvin pointed out that the Texans still went 9-7, to which Davis pointed out the Texans' offensive woes and in a not-so-subtle reference to the departed Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallentt, added "Because they had hot garbage at quarterback."

Davis pointed out that Panthers QB Cam Newton was the NFL MVP, to which Irvin responded "because (Kuechly is) giving him the ball in scoring position."

Irvin noted the Texans haven't won a thing (we're presuming he means playoff games not against Cincinnati), and Taylor said that wasn't Watt's fault.

That got Irvin amped up.

"Whose fault is it? He's the star of the team," Irvin roared. "If the Dallas Cowboys lose on my watch, it's my fault. If you're the baddest man on the team, you've got to take it both ways when it ain't going right and you ain't winning, that's on you.

"J.J. Watt's been the baddest man in the league and they haven't gotten close to any kind of championship."

Taylor then asked Irvin if he'd take Watt or Kuechly if he were starting a team (Taylor earlier said he'd take Watt). Of course, Irvin went with Kuechly.

"I'm taking Luke Kuechly," Irvin said. "I'm taking the middle linebacker who makes everyone around him play well."

The argument went on for so long that Texans cornerback Charles James even chimed in on Twitter to back Watt.

Watching Michael Irvin on NFL Network like....#HeCantBeSerious pic.twitter.com/GZKc0z9jPq — Charles James II (@CJDeuce_) July 7, 2016

The only thing that was missing was a fire extinguisher after all the hot takes spewed by Irvin.