Steelers Pro Bowler Cam Heyward finds himself in the middle of a passionate debate on social media

It seems to come around at least once a year, but the debate on pressures vs. sacks has started again across the NFL.

Pittsburgh Steelers DL Cam Heyward felt one way about the debate, with NFL analyst Trey Wingo feeling another way.

And with it being the week of the 4th of July, the two of them decided to get the fireworks started early.

Wingo vs Heyward on Pressures vs. Sacks

“This is why pressures are a better more productive stat than sacks. If you can get em on the ground…great.. but make the uncomfortable and move them is just as if not more efficient,” Trey Wingo of Pro Football Network wrote on X.

“Pressures are good but the more productive stat is a sack that can lead to turnover. Pressures can be misleading and when play results in sacks that’s the goal,” Heyward wrote in response to Wingo's tweet.

Wingo responded , “Pressures can also lead to turnovers like the INT Mahomes threw in the Super Bowl. And it was pressure from Chris Jones that forced an errant throw from Purdy in OT when Jennings was open for a TD.”

“Pressures can but aren’t definite. A sack is a definite in changing the outcome for an offense. Yes, Chris Jones affected a play but I’ve seen Pat Mahomes eat up pressures and deliver touchdowns. I could have a crazy move and get home and receive a pressure only for a QB to step through and complete,” Heyward responded to Wingo before ending the debate with a final tweet that stated: Sacks>Pressure>No Pressure

I see both sides of the equation here. To disrupt timing and get a QB off their spot is a win for the defense, point blank period. That would be noted as a pressure, and the more pressure you generate, the more likely you are to win a game, it's simple.

But if I had to pick a side, I would go with Heyward, and here's why...

Sacks change games. They kill drives. Offensive coordinators hate nothing more than sacks.

Say a QB gets pressured and misses the throw on 2nd and 7 or just throws it away. No big deal, 3rd and 7 is up next. Not great, but a manageable situation. Now say the QB gets sacked and 2nd 7 turns to 3rd and 13 or greater.

Well, there just aren't a lot of play calls for that down and distance, and the team is forced to punt or settle for a field goal.

So I see both sides of the coin, but in my opinion, sacks are always going to be greater than pressures.

Heyward hopes to be sacking players for a few more years in Pittsburgh , while his partner T.J. Watt can set a sack record as soon as this season.