• JOSEPH SHOWS GUILE.
Joseph’s experience puts him in position for game-deciding interception return
Moments before Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph held the football over his head and strutted into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown Sunday, the veteran defensive back essentially called his shot.
Prior to the seventh touchdown of his career on an interception return, Joseph told safety Tyrann Mathieu he believed that Buffalo quarterback Nathan Peterman would go back to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.
Joseph’s instincts and knowledge of the Bills’ strategy were accurate. The two-time Pro Bowl corner jumped the telegraphed sideline pass for the interception and scooted 28 yards for the touchdown to propel the Texans to a 20-13 win at NRG Stadium.
“We did have that conversation, but it played out a little differently,” Joseph said. “They kind of ran the play the play before to Kelvin Benjamin and I thought they had a chance to catch the ball there. Me thinking as a coordinator, I come right back to it and take a chance.
“I told Tyrann the next play that I was going to be aggressive no matter what, but we kind of put us in a defense where I had a chance to be aggressive regardless, so that’s kind of how it unfolded.”
Between Peterman’s lack of guile, Joseph’s savvy and pressure from Kareem Jackson on a blitz dialed up by defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, the Texans put the game away.
“Kareem is the free guy blitzing, I know that the quarterback is going to count him as the hot guy and he had to get the ball off,” Joseph said. “I was just playing the quarterback’s eyes and the routes. ”
With under two minutes to play, the touchdown from Joseph ensured the Texans wouldn’t be going to overtime for the third game in a row as it broke a 13-13 deadlock.
“I kind of thought for a second to get there and just hold the ball so we can run the clock out,” Joseph said. “But then I was like chances like that don’t come by so often, I’ve got to score this.”
At 34, Joseph and backup quarterback Brandon Weeden share the distinction of being the oldest players on the Texans’ roster. Joseph is also regarded as one of the wisest, with teammates frequently consulting the 13-year veteran for tips on football and life.
“Of course, J-Jo is one of the smartest guys in this locker room,” Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “For him to come up with this pick-six, it wasn’t a surprise to anybody.”
Joined at his post-game news conference by his son and daughter, Joseph kept smiling as he recalled how the game-changing play came together.
“Kareem did a great job of pressuring everybody else up front,” Joseph said. “I just had to make my job easy and catch the ball. Coach Romeo, he had a great call for the defense. It was a zone pressure. I think Kareem did a great job all day of disguising things, and we hadn’t made that call all day.
“I saw Kareem — actually the quarterback pointed the opposite way, so we knew he was going to be the free guy and I just made the play. It was great execution from my standpoint. Kareem, the rest of the defense, and it was a great call by Romeo.”
The interception was Joseph’s first of the season and the 29th of his career.
This was Joseph’s first interception return for a touchdown since last season against the Cleveland Browns and a franchise-record fourth returned for a score. He has the second-most interceptions in Texans franchise history with 15 since joining the team in 2011, ranking one behind Jackson.
“It was an incredible play, obviously a gigantic play in the game,” Texans defensive end J.J. Watt said. “Really didn’t want to play another overtime, so very glad he was able to do that.
"J-Jo is a vet, savvy, been around the league a long time. Huge play when we needed it.”
Joseph played through some discomfort, too.
He had his shoulder X-rayed and briefly left the game but came back in and delivered a play the Texans needed.
Now, Joseph is tied with Baltimore safety Eric Weddle and Carolina safety Mike Adams for the seventh-most career interceptions among active NFL players. Joseph is also tied with Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins for the second-most career interceptions returned for touchdowns among active players.
“He’s very smart,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I can remember back one time when we played the Saints, he had an idea what play was coming there in a gamewinning type play.
"Same thing (Sunday), he just had an idea. He’s been playing so long, and one of the reasons why is because of how intelligent he is."