A perfect QB
Watson’s five-TD performance shows just how special he can be
With 5 TD passes, Deshaun Watson shows how special he can be.
Deshaun Watson’s magnificence was mesmerizing in Sunday’s 53-32 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
One week after he failed to throw a touchdown pass in a six-point home loss to Carolina, Watson returned to NRG Stadium and bushwhacked the Falcons with one of the most impressive performances in NFL history.
Operating behind an offensive line that didn’t allow him to be sacked for only the second time in his three-year career, Watson completed 28 of 33 passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns without an interception. His rating was a perfect 158.3.
Watson, who threw five touchdown passes for the third time in his career, helped the Texans improve to 3-2 and remain in first place in the AFC South.
Watson became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards and five touchdowns with five or fewer incompletions. Think about that for a minute: Watson had as many touchdown passes as incompletions against the Falcons, his favorite team when he was growing up in Gainesville, Ga.
Will Fuller was the primary beneficiary of Watson’s excellence. Fuller set career highs with 14 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns. With the Falcons focusing their coverage on DeAndre Hopkins, who had seven receptions for 88 yards, Watson and Fuller embarrassed Atlanta’s defense for touchdowns of 6, 33 and 44 yards.
Watson threw his other two touchdown passes to tight end Darren Fells for 8 and 12 yards.
“We have weapons,” Watson said. “We’ve got to get our receivers the ball and let them make plays. That’s my mentality — taking what the defense gives us and then letting the receivers create room and make plays downfield, try to get the defense running side to side. If we can do that and get them tired, the big plays are going to open up.”
The Texans had 10 plays of at least 20 yards and six of at least 30, including Fuller receptions of 33, 36, 32 and 44 yards.
“He’s a good open-field player,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s a good deep-route runner. We’ve got a good deep-ball thrower and an accurate passer, and they have good chemistry.”
The Texans also ran for 166 yards and a 4.9 average. Watson had a 30-yard run, and Duke Johnson broke free for a 24-yard gain.
O’Brien, who calls the plays, used Watson’s passing to set up the running game. After the Texans scored only 10 points in the loss to Carolina and Watson was limited to 160 yards passing, he threw quicker and was more decisive and accurate with his throws.
O’Brien, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterbacks coach Carl Smith did a good job of getting Watson to bounce back from the Carolina game, and it was obvious he was more comfortable in the pocket and more confident in what the offense was trying to do against the Falcons, who fell to 1-4 for the second consecutive season.
“We wanted to throw the ball,” Watson said. “Starting with Hop, you have to double him. He’s the best receiver in the game, (so) you can’t allow him to beat you. He gets open, and everything that comes his way, he usually catches. Of course, they’re going to double the best receiver and play man and see if they can lock up the other receivers.
“With the double coverage, DeAndre did a heck of a job allowing Will to get open and setting up the routes for him.”
Watson’s performance was even more impressive considering Kenny Stills, who had four receptions of 30 or more yards in the first four games, was out with a hamstring injury. Keke Coutee got more playing time and responded with a 51-yard reception that set up the first touchdown of the second half.
“He did an awesome job of managing the offense, managing the formations and personnel groupings and plays,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He ran the show.” And what a show it was. Watson and the offense were so proficient generating 592 yards, including 8.8 a play, and accumulating 31 first downs, they scored on all but two of their 10 possessions.
They punted on their first series and followed it with two touchdowns and a field goal. The only other time they didn’t score was when they got the ball with 22 seconds left in the first half. In the second half, they scored on all five possessions, including four touchdowns.
Watson and the offense were so productive they converted 10-of-13 third-down attempts (77 percent) and scored touchdowns on four-of-five trips into the red zone (80 percent).
“It was extremely important for us to start getting in a rhythm,” said Fells, who has three touchdown catches. “Obviously, last week we were struggling a little. This week, we picked it up. It’s (about) getting into a rhythm and keeping that streak going.”
Watson led the Texans to 53 points, second most in team history to the 57 they scored against Tennessee when he was a rookie in 2017. Since 1950, Watson became only the third quarterback to throw for at least 400 yards and five touchdowns while compiling a perfect 158.3 rating.
“That’s pretty cool,” Watson said about making history. “We left a lot of plays on the field. (I) missed a couple of touchdowns with Will, so it could have been even better.”