Watson, Texans are showing new life playing under Crennel
Quarterback has four touchdown passes as team moves to 3- 1 with interim coach.
HOUSTON 41 DETROIT 25
DETROIT — Deshaun Watson dropped back in a protected pocket at midfield and lofted one of his four touchdown passes, connecting with Will Fuller in stride just before he reached the end zone.
The Houston Texans quarterback made it look easy, and the Detroit Lions did their part to not put up much of a fight.
Watson had two goahead touchdown passes in the f irst half and threw for two more scores in the fourth quarter to help Houston pull away and beat Detroit 41- 25 Thursday.
And still, he wasn’t satisfied. “It was definitely good, but I missed two touchdowns,” Watson said.
The dynamic quarterback f inished 17 of 25 for 318 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
He has thrown 15 touchdown passes without getting picked off in the last six games.
“You’ve got to give some credit to the guys up front,” interim coach Romeo Crennel said. “If they give him time, he’s able to make plays. Guys can get open and he can hit them. He has that kind of accuracy.”
Texans star defensive end J. J. Watt had an early pick- six and Fuller had six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns, including a 40- yard touchdown catch in which it looked like he and Watson were all alone on a practice field.
The Texans ( 4- 7) have won two straight for the first time this season and three of four games with Crennel.
“That’s good, but we haven’t won enough,” Crennel said.
The Lions haven’t, either, and it might cost at least one man his job.
Detroit ( 4- 7) might end the season with interim leaders after losing consecutive games for the third time this season, dropping coach Matt Patricia’s record to 13- 29- 1 and general manager Bob Quinn’s mark to 12 games under .500 over f ive seasons.
Patricia was peppered with questions about his job status.
“My focus every day is on the guys in that locker room and working as hard as I can to help them be successful,” he said.