All hail the AFC South leaders
Super-cool Watson delivers crucial win to secure AFC South lead
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — They follow his lead.
In the moments that define.
Against the AFC’s best.
When it feels like everything that has been worked so hard for is suddenly slipping away.
Deshaun Watson’s talent, heart and personal spirit take over. His Texans follow the real-life magic.
“We had to lock in, and that’s what we did. It came down to that fourth quarter,” said Watson after the Texans unearthed a 24-21 win over Tennessee at Nissan Stadium.
“It was just something that we definitely didn’t want to let it slip out of our hand.”
Watson should win a Super Bowl someday. This season should soon see his first playoff victory.
Sunday on the Titans’ field, D4 was the true difference maker in a tough, messy battle for first place in the AFC South.
Watson, not once-scorching Ryan Tannehill, was the best quarterback between the lines. The Texans, not the
formerly white-hot Titans, were the stronger and sharper squad. And after another convincing victory — which has the Texans on the verge of their fourth division title and playoff spot in the last five years — we have three big 2019 W’s that clearly mark a trend.
Watson rallied to take down Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs in Kansas City.
Watson beat Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and New England on national TV.
Watson overcame Tennessee in an unpredictable Week 15 fight for the South, despite throwing two costly red-zone interceptions that took 14 potential points off the board.
“Deshaun is a baller, man,” wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “Deshaun doesn’t panic at all in any situations. I think that spreads throughout this locker room. It gives everybody confidence.”
It was 14-0 Texans at halftime. Then it was 14-14 with 13:46 left in the fourth quarter. On-field momentum: Titans. Buzzing stadium: Titans. Pregame favorite: Titans.
A 6-1 record in their last seven games: Titans.
The Texans’ QB: Watson. The pendulum was swinging only one way.
The 24-year-old led a sevenplay, 75-yard drive that required just 3:01. Then Watson led a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took 5:20. Ten essential points pushed the Texans to 9-5 and Tennessee (8-6) into second place in the division.
Tough, gutsy Carlos Hyde was huge (26 carries, 104 yards, touchdown), and what an addition he’s been. Lamar Miller was lost during the preseason to a season-ending injury. Hyde has rushed 224 times for 1,030 yards and five TDs, and he still has two games to go.
Hopkins (six catches, 119 yards) was everything he’s supposed to be. When the victory could go either way, No. 10 reaffirmed his magnet-like connection with his QB.
The Texans’ defense gave up 21 second-half points but held Derrick Henry in check, picked off Tannehill twice and cracked helmets for four quarters.
Bill O’Brien and his staff did the job right Sunday, dumping the previous week in the trash and getting the best out of the Texans against the team’s biggest regular-season obstacle.
But it was ultimately one more “How does Watson keep doing that?” game, and those memories are stacking up. The Texans exited Nashville with a critical W because D4 is their QB.
“Everybody on the team knows what he can do,” said O’Brien, who also has three big victories this season. “He’s a guy that we always know we’re in the game. Even if there’s a mistake made by anybody, we’re in the game.
“There were some things that weren’t that great, but that’s football; that’s the NFL. And if you can overcome adversity in the NFL like that, then you’ve got a chance, and that was what gave us a chance (Sunday).”
This campaign began with near-magic in New Orleans. Indianapolis was put away. Mahomes and Brady were beaten. Inferior opponents were demolished.
Watson threw two troubling picks Sunday, and by the start of the final period, it was feeling like the same ol’ Texans syndrome had reappeared.
Cue the return of the leader. Watson hit Hopkins for 35 yards.
Watson ran up the middle for 12 yards on third-and-8.
Watson hit Hopkins for 35 yards again.
Watson found Hopkins for 25 more, using his arm, legs, field vision and football IQ to create yards, first downs and points.
“He’s always the same,” center Nick Martin said. “He’s the most poised player I’ve ever been around.”
He was instant hope when he was drafted.
He has wowed, stunned and floored us since 2017.
He’s still learning and growing, and the two picks were a reminder of that.
But there was no way the Texans were losing, disappointing or painfully giving this one away.
The moment arrived. The game was being defined.
Watson calmly glided forward. The Texans followed his supercool lead.