Watson’s leadership has team pushing its limits
Quarterback’s rare talent and determination inspire players, coaches as playoffs beckon
Quarterback Deshaun Watson put on an ironman type of performance in Sunday’s 20-3 victory over Jacksonville that clinched the AFC South title and guaranteed the Texans a game at NRG Stadium in the wild-card round.
After the Texans’ 0-3 start, Watson led the team to an 11-2 finish. They’re the first team since the San Diego Chargers in 1992 to begin the season with three defeats and rebound to win the division. It’s their third AFC South title in Bill O’Brien’s five seasons as coach.
Watson has developed a terrific relationship with O’Brien, who oversees the game plan and calls the plays. At this time last year, when he was recovering from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Watson was tweeting that he “didn’t want OB fired.”
O’Brien got a four-year extension, Watson got healthy, and the Texans went from 4-12 to 11-5.
Working against a Jaguars defense that came into the game ranked fifth in the NFL, including second against the pass, Watson played it safe as a passer but let it all hang out as a runner, causing Texans fans to cringe every time he took a licking but kept on ticking. Extraordinary playmaker
Watson ignited the running game that had flamed out over the past three games when the Texans averaged 66 yards. O’Brien gave him the option to run, and Watson took advantage of it, running 13 times for 66 yards and a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Texans a secondquarter lead they didn’t lose.
“Really, just making the best decisions for the team,” Watson said about running so many times. “I want to throw it, but if the ball’s in my hands, I feel like I’m a playmaker. I feel like I’m the best player on the team. It’s just my mentality, best player on the field.
“I’m not saying that in a cocky way, but every player should have that mentality when they step on the field.”
Few would argue against Watson, who completed 25 of 35 attempts for 234 yards against the Jaguars. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but he also didn’t throw an interception for a sixth consecutive game. Of the Texans’ past 10 games, Watson didn’t throw an interception in nine of them.
“He’s done an excellent job of understanding this team and how important ball security is,” O’Brien said. “We’ve harped on possessing the ball at the end of every play. For the most part, he did a great job of that today.”
It’s a good thing Watson has a “hot tub at the crib,” as he put it afterward because he’s going to need as much help as he can get to heal from the punishment he absorbed. Watson was sacked six times, giving him 62, 14 shy of David Carr’s record of 76 set in 2002, the Texans’ first season. Watson also became the first to be sacked at least 60 times since Detroit’s Jon Kitna (63) in 2006.
To make matters worse, the Jaguars knocked down Watson another 12 times. But he bounced back up for more.
“He’s getting hit too much,” O’Brien said. “We have to figure that out at some point. It’s taking us forever to figure it out, but we’ll keep trying.”
They won’t be able to figure it out until the offseason when O’Brien and general manager Brian Gaine will use the draft and free agency to rebuild the pass protection.
Meanwhile, Watson’s toughness and determination inspired teammates like DeAndre Hopkins, who had an exceptional performance against the Jaguars and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Hopkins caught a career-high 12 passes for 147 yards. He set career highs with 115 catches and 1,572 yards to go with 11 touchdowns this season.
“The way Deshaun plays the game, it makes everyone in the locker room want to take their game up a little,” Hopkins said. “The guy takes a lot of hits, but he still stays in the pocket and plays like he didn’t take a hit the play before. Me seeing that makes me go out there and want to make a play for him.”
After surviving the Jaguars and their game plan for him that sent pass rushers from every direction, Watson’s second regular season ended with him accumulating 4,165 yards, a 68.3 completion percentage, 26 touchdowns, nine interceptions, an 8.2-yard average per attempt and a 103.1 rating.
Watson also ran for 551 yards and five touchdowns. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to generate at least 4,000 yards, 25 touchdowns, 500 yards rushing and five rushing TDs. No changing style now
When the playoffs begin, expect Watson to play with that same style as Sunday. He’ll do everything he can to help the Texans win, including another game with double-digit runs that could make him their leading rusher for a fifth straight game.
It’s not something O’Brien wants, but he’ll accept it because he’s not going to hamstring his quarterback and tell him to play it safe at this crucial time.
“I don’t want to get into the schematics of all the things we did today,” O’Brien said about Watson running so much. “Everything helped, and everybody helped.”
Whatever it takes is Watson’s motto. If the Texans are going to win a playoff game, it’s going to take another gargantuan effort from Watson — in the air and on the ground.