Watson takes charge late, rescues Texans
The Houston Texans were trailing late and facing a second straight loss after a nine-game winning streak.
Deshaun Watson wasn’t having it.
The cool-headed, playmaking quarterback threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins with 2:15 left, lifting the Texans to a 29-22 road victory over Sam Darnold and the New York Jets on Saturday.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he’s able to stay controlled in those situations,” Hopkins said about Watson. “He’s done that before in big games in his career. On the sideline, everyone was composed. Nobody panicked.”
And no one was more in control than Watson.
“The game is never over for me,” he said. “The plays are never over sometimes. I just go out there with the ball in my hands, put the load on my shoulders and lead the team to victory. I’ve been doing that my whole life and I have to continue to do that at this level.
“Every game comes down to a final drive. You’ve got to be able to block out all the noise, lock in and try to lead the team to victory.”
After Darnold and the Jets took their first lead of the game on Elijah McGuire’s 2-yard touchdown run, the Texans (10-4) answered right back.
A holding call on cornerback Morris Claiborne on third down prolonged the drive, and Watson completed passes of 20 and 3 yards to Demaryius Thomas and 7 yards to Hopkins to get to New York’s 14. Watson then found Hopkins streaking down the left sideline and launched a pass that the receiver came down with.
Hopkins finished with 10 catches for 170 yards and two TDs.
BROWNS KEEP SLIM PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE >>> Baker Mayfield capitalized on Denver’s depleted cornerback corps and dubious decisions in leading the visiting Cleveland Browns past the Broncos 17-16, keeping alive their slim hopes of ending the NFL’s longest playoff drought.
Mayfield’s 2-yard TD toss to Antonio Calloway with just under 12 minutes left provided the winning margin for the Browns. They snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Broncos.
The Browns still have a shot at their first winning season since 2007 and even their first playoff berth since 2002 thanks to their first win over Denver since 1990. COWBOYS’ ELLIOTT FINED >> Dallas Cowboys star running Ezekiel Elliott has been fined $26,739 for unnecessary roughness for leading with his helmet and making contact with the Eagles’ Corey Graham in a Week 14 game. The fine, announced by the NFL on Saturday, makes Elliott the first offensive player docked money under the league’s new helmet rule. Elliott’s act came in the fourth quarter and was replayed several times on TV.
EAGLES’ WENTZ OUT, FOLES TO START >> Carson Wentz’s back injury will sideline him for today’s game at the Rams. With the Eagles’ No. 1 quarterback out, Nick Foles gets another opportunity to rescue the team he led to a Super Bowl victory last season.
STEELERS’ CONNER OUT VS. PATRIOTS >> Looks like Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner’s balky left ankle won’t be ready to go against the Patriots. The AFC North leaders downgraded Conner from questionable to doubtful for today’s game against New England. Conner, who is sixth in the NFL with 909 yards rushing, skipped last week’s game against Oakland and was limited in practice on Friday. Jaylen Samuels and Stevan Ridley will fill in for Conner if he’s unable to go.