Watson at his best with team at its worst
Quarterback Deshaun Watson is compiling the most impressive numbers of his four-year career, but his production has yet to translate into Texans victories. Watson isn’t the problem. He’s been red hot over his last five games, averaging 313.4 yards passing to go with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has a team-record five consecutive games with a triple-digit passer rating.
The Texans’ problem is they can’t run the ball or stop the run, and their pass coverage has been awful. The only thing they have going for them consistently is a passing game that ranks fifth in the NFL, averaging 282.7 yards a game.
Going into Sunday’s game at Jacksonville — the only team the Texans have defeated — Watson ranks among the top 10 with 2,095 yards (ninth), 15 touchdowns (tied for seventh), a 69.5 completion percentage (seventh), an 8.8-yard average per attempt (first) and 30 completions of 20 or more yards (third).
Against the Jaguars, Watson will try to extend his team record with a fifth consecutive game
with at least 300 yards passing.
On his weekly Zoom conference call Wednesday, Watson was asked if he’s playing better than at any previous time in his career.
“Honestly, yes, I am,” he said. “As far as being efficient, I think this is the best I’ve felt. These are the best numbers I’ve had in my career. Who knows what my rookie year would have been like if I hadn’t gotten hurt, (but) this is the best football I’ve been playing.”
If Sunday’s game against the Jaguars is anything like the Texans’ 30-14 victory last month, Watson should have another outstanding performance. He completed 25 of 35 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns at NRG Stadium. He had two interceptions, one sack and a 109.1 rating.
The Jaguars have a sixgame losing streak, and they’ve surrendered at least 30 points in each of those losses.
The Texans’ schedule eases up over the last nine games. They’re done with Kansas City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Green Bay. The teams they have left with the best records are Indianapolis (5-2) and Tennessee (5-2). Four teams — the Jaguars, Patriots, Lions and Bengals — have losing records.
As crazy as it seems, Watson isn’t ready to concede the AFC South title to the Colts or Titans. Asked about his goals, he said, “Just try to win the division. That’s our main focus, starting with Jacksonville. Give everything we have and have fun doing it.”
The Texans had a ninegame winning streak in 2018, but this team has done nothing to think it’s capable of repeating that performance.
But it should be pointed out that of the last eight teams on the schedule, five are in the bottom half in defense, with Jacksonville the lowest (31st). Five opponents are among the bot
tom half of the league in pass defense.
The only defense the Texans have left among the top 11 is Indianapolis, which is second.
“I’m trying to find ways to win games and turn the season around,” Watson said. “My main focus is to get some wins.”
Watson was relieved when receiver Will Fuller wasn’t traded. Fuller has 31 catches for 490 yards and five touchdowns.
With Fuller, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb, the Texans are one of three teams with three wide receivers with at least 30 receptions.
“I was talking to Will through the whole process,” Watson said about the reports Fuller could be traded to Green Bay. “It’s good to keep him in that locker room (because he’s) my brother and my friend.
“We’re on the same page. We want to put up a lot of points and win games. It’s going to be good to continue to throw to him.”
Fuller has seven catches of at least 20 yards, one fewer than Cooks, who had 24 catches for 289 yards over the last three games before the team’s open date.
Watson and his receivers, including the tight ends and running backs, are under intense pressure
because the Texans’ running game is pathetic, ranking last with 84.9 yards a game.
The offense isn’t onedimensional by design. But unless interim coach Romeo Crennel can produce Earl Campbell to play running back and Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews to play guard, the running game is doomed to struggle.
“It puts a lot of pressure on him,” Crennel said of Watson. “The biggest pressure is that the opposing defense knows that you’re going to be throwing, so now their pass rushers can kind pin their ears back, and there’s really not much to slow them down.
“But if you can generate a running game, then those guys have to play the run, (and) they have to be concerned about play action. When the quarterback drops back to pass, it’s easier because those (rushers) are a little slower trying to get to him.”
The Texans work on their running game every week, and they’re still the worst in the league.
“We’ve got to do a better job with our double-teams (blocks) when we have them,” Crennel said. “Then we’ve got to do a better job of blocking the edge, because if you can get to the edge, then you can get big plays.
“If the running back can get outside, generally it’s a first down or plus more yardage.”
Watson can’t just conjure up a running game, so he knows what his role is: Protect the ball, make smart decisions, locate his receivers, and produce in the red zone.
With Fuller, Cooks and Cobb at receiver, Jordan Akins returning at tight end with Darren Fells, and David and Duke Johnson being excellent receivers out of the backfield, the passing game should continue to excel.
“If I have to pass a lot, I do what I have to do to win,” Watson said. “I don’t feel any extra pressure. That’s the way our offense is set up.”
Watson has more talented receivers than at any other time in his career. It’s time for that kind of talent to elevate the team to more wins.
“I try to find the open man and deliver the ball down the field,” Watson said. “I try not to get too greedy. The big plays are going to happen.
“I do whatever I can to make something happen, whether it’s first downs or touchdowns. I try to be as perfect as I can be. I just try to play ball.”