WATT’S INTERCEPTION FOR TD SPARKS DEFENSE.
Longtime defensive stalwart sets tone against Lions with interception return for a TD
DETROIT — J. J. Watt hung back for a split-second after his initial charge, lurking at the line of scrimmage and waiting patiently for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to release the football.
The timing was perfect as Watt leapt at precisely the right moment to intercept the pass. Watt’s hands and speed weren’t too shabby, either.
Watt took off on a sprint and raced untouched into the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown Thursday during the first half of the Texans’ 41-25 victory at Ford Field. This marked Watt’s first touchdown since catching a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass in 2014 and the seventh score overall of his career.
“I knew it was a pass and we had a blitz on, so I was going upfield, but I saw he was going to throw quickly, so I stopped rushing and jumped up,” Watt said. “Hit me square in the hands, I double-clutched it and then just spun out and ran to the end zone. Just trying to make a play, just trying to do whatever I can to win a game on a big stage and give Houston something to smile about.”
It was a satisfying moment for Watt during an otherwise frustrating season that sparked the Texans’ defense to a season-high three turnovers. It also served as a reminder that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year remains capable of a dominant performance one week after deflecting a career-high four passes in a win over the New England Patriots.
At age 31 and heading into an offseason where he’ll be entering the final year of a $100 million contract, Watt still has a lot left in the tank.
“That was dope,” Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson said. “It brought me back to the old days. He’s not getting old as we look at it.
“He’s still got some athletic abil-
ity. I knew sooner or later, especially after last week’s game, he was going to get one of them.”
From his vantage point after being stopped on a blitz, Texans inside linebacker Tyrell Adams had an up-close view of Watt’s touchdown.
“I’ve never seen J. J. run so damn fast inmy life,” Adams said. “I’m going on a blitz, I get blocked by the running back and I turn around and hear everybody yelling and J. J. snatching it out of the air and he just takes off.”
The Texans held the Lions to 5.1 yards per offensive play. They sacked Stafford four times, including two sacks from backup linebacker Nate Hall to go along with a sack and two hits by safety Justin Reid, one sack from linebacker Whitney Mercilus and eight quarterback hits overall.
Adams recorded a career-high 17 tackles, tying a franchise singlegame record. He also forced two fumbles.
The biggest play was delivered by No. 99.
“It’s not the play call,” Stafford said. “I thought we outflanked them in the flat quickly, and he just made a great play.
“Obviously, (we) still can’t do that, but he’s a great player and has done that quite a few times. That’s what he’s great at.”
Although Lions running back Adrian Peterson rushed for a pair of touchdowns, he was held to 55 rushing yards and an average of 3.7 per carry as the Lions gained just 109 yards on the ground against the NFL’s last-ranked run defense.
On Thursday, Watt provided some fire and enthusiasm for a defense that’s been down-and-out for most of the season.
“J. J. is a baller,” Adams said. “I just love seeing him play. It really gives everybody the jump they need to go make a play. It really sparked the defense. From there on out, we played fast, we played
physical. He kind of jump-started everything.”
Under first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the Texans have played much better the past two games since allowing a pair of 100-yard rushers in a road loss to the Cleveland Browns
What’s different about a suddenly improved defense? Scheme? Attitude?
“I think it’s probably a little bit combination of both,” Watt said. “A simplification of some things, an emphasis on other things, probably doing some things he wants to do, yeah.”
In practice, the coaching staff has preached the importance of turnovers and even created weekly competitions to try to get players to become more opportunistic. Watt’s interception is just the third overall of the season for the Texas as cornerbacks Bradley Roby and Vernon Hargreaves have one apiece.
“We talked about turnovers, and I mentioned that they come in streaks sometimes, and we talked about how J. J. used to be able to tip the ball, intercept it and run it in for a touchdown, and then lo and behold, he does it early in the game,” Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “It gave the whole team a lift to see him make a play like that. He’s doing what he’s been coached to do, what he’s done in thepast, andhe has a big frame and it’s hard to throw over him.”
Watt is due a $17.5 million nonguaranteed base salary in 2021. The Texans didn’t shop Watt prior to the NFL trade deadline. There’s always the possibility a new general manager and head coach will view Watt as a tradeable asset, but that’s a decision for the future.
After the game, Watt couldn’t resist having some fun on social media.
“Reservations for 6 (No more than 6 though),” Watt wrote. “With masks. Properly distanced. Outside. Throw the turkey to your neighbor. Don’t try that with the pie though.”
Watt now has three interceptions returned for touchdowns, one fumble returned for a score and three touchdown catches in his career.
Watt has dealt with a lot of angst throughout the season, expressing deep frustrations about the state of the team. This was a time when he could enjoy himself as the Texans improved to 4-3 under Crennel since Bill O’Brien was fired.
The Texans still aren’t in contention for a playoff spot, but they’re winning some games, and the defense isn’t holding back a prolific passing game orchestrated by Watson.
“We’ve obviously had a couple of wins,” Watt said. “We still have a lot of things left to improve on and get better. If you look at the grand scheme of things, we have a lot of work to do still.”