In the NFL it's all about the quarterback.

If an NFL franchise has an elite-level quarterback, their odds of reaching the Super Bowl go up substantially.

With quarterback play being so important, it stands to reason that getting after the quarterback is part of the Super Bowl-winning formula, too.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have the elite quarterback part of that equation, but they have the elite pass rushers in TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward.

NFL.com recently ranked the top five pass-rushing duos in the NFL and Watt/Heyward came in at No. 3 on their list.

(Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones from the Las Vegas Raiders were No. 1 and Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack from the Los Angeles Chargers were No. 2.)

From NFL.com:

Watt is a disruptive sack master with a knack for producing splash plays off the edge. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has 65 sacks over the past four seasons. He's also forced 21 fumbles over that span, utilizing a tomahawk chop that separates the quarterback from the ball. Heyward is a rock-solid interior playmaker with underrated pass-rushing skills. He has notched double-digit sacks twice in his 11-year career, but his disruption between the tackles doesn't always show up on the stat sheet. Opponents are forced to account for his whereabouts in pass protection, and that is a problem when Watt is wreaking havoc off the edges. As new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin starts tweaking the scheme to create more sack opportunities for his top playmakers, the AFC could see Watt and Heyward post monster numbers once again for a defense that should be more aggressive and scheme-diverse next season.

There's a very strong argument to be made that Watt and Heyward should be listed higher than anyone else on this list.

Watt had 22.5 sacks last season. Heyward had 10 sacks. That's 32.5 total sacks from Watt and Heyward.

32.5.

The other four players ahead of Watt and Heyward on this list combined for 35 total sacks.

It's not even close. Watt and Heyward are the last two players any quarterback in the NFL should want to see coming toward them.

The Steelers play in a division loaded with elite quarterbacks — Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Deshaun Watson. Pittsburgh will need good quarterback play from Mitch Trubiksy to compete with those teams in 2022. But thanks to the presence of Watt and Heyward, the Steelers can neutralize the elite play from the other quarterbacks in the division and possibly steal an AFC North division title in 2022.

Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports