Keeps on ticking
After trip to medical tent, QB Watson delivers key pass despite beating from defense
Watson keeps his poise despite taking several hard hits.
The high-wire act of Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson carries the considerable promise of his dangerous running skills.
It also involves plenty of risk for the multidimensional second-year passer.
That element of danger and Watson’s toughness were on display during a high-profile situation for the Texans on Sunday night during a nationally televised prime-time game against the Dallas Cowboys at NRG Stadium.
Watson ended regulation being checked in a medical tent for concussion symptoms after being hit hard on an interception.
Minutes later, Watson shook it off and calmly lobbed a pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for a 49-yard catch-and-run that set up the game-winning field goal of a 19-16 overtime victory.
Throughout the game, Watson eluded multiple defenders in the open field and when the pocket collapsed around him.
Watson completed 33 of 44 passes for 375 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 98.2 passer rating. He rushed for a team high 40 yards on 10 carries.
Watson was also repeatedly pounded when he challenged defenders and attempted to charge through them.
He got tackled hard during the third quarter on a failed redzone run.
During the first half, Watson absorbed a big hit from Cowboys safety Jeff Heath after scrambling for seven yards.
He was sacked on fourth down at the Cowboys’ 2-yard line as another prime red-zone scoring opportunity unraveled.
Watson got slammed to the ground during the fourth quarter when he attempted a quarterback sneak on second-and-goal.
The Texans’ red-zone struggles were a major problem all game as they were one for five in prime scoring opportunities during regulation.
Throughout all the contact he encountered, which included one sack and 10 quarterback hits in regulation, Watson remained unflappable and emerged unscathed with his health intact.
Watson maintained his trademark poise and continued to rifle spirals and run for yards. After four quarters, he had completed 31 of 42 passes for 314 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 92.8 passer rating.
During the first half alone, Watson connected on 15 of 19 passes for 180 yards, one touchdown and no interception for a 123.7 passer rating.
But he had to provide a lot of running with starting running back Lamar Miller active though not playing due to a painful chest injury.
Entering Sunday’s game, Watson had been sacked 17 times and hit 43 times overall. That put the Texans on pace to allow 68 sacks and 172 hits for the season.
They were slightly better against Dallas, improving as they shuffled their offensive line once again.
One week after being benched against the Indianapolis Colts after starting the first three games at right tackle, Julie’n Davenport was back in the starting lineup at left tackle with Kendall Lamm remaining at the right tackle position. Rookie left tackle Martinas Rankin was benched.
Regardless of who’s blocking, it’s been a recurring theme for the Texans: Watson being hit early and often.
Unlike previous games when Watson was under relentless pressure in the pocket, this time he was causing a lot of his own contact along with coach Bill O’Brien’s play-calling strategy.
After his promising rookie season ended prematurely due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Watson has made a full recovery and has started every game this season.
Watson has shed the rust accumulated during his convalescence. He entered Sunday with 1,246 passing yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions with a 93.7 passer rating.
The former consensus All American and national championship winner from Clemson entered Sunday on pace to finish the season with 4,984 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
As impressive as Watson was in several moments, the question of how much longer he can withstand this much contact looms largely over the Texans’ franchise.
Watson is the centerpiece of the Texans’ efforts to overhaul an offense that hasn’t had a quarterback with his kind of talents in the history of the organization.
Growing pains for Watson and how he’s utilized continue to dog the Texans as he attempts a balancing act of when to run, when to throw it away and when to protect himself from big hits.
The quarterback slides on occasion, but he rarely avoids a contact situation when he feels like there’s a chance to make a play.
Watson is fearless, but the question of how long his frame can handle the pounding is a hot-button issue for the Texans.
On Sunday night, Watson took a beating from the Cowboys and kept on pounding.