Big step in right direction for Texans
Simply electrifying Watson takes his next huge step
Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney walks past a downed Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the third quarter of Houston’s 28-22 victory on Sunday night, marking the team’s first win over New England since 2010 and handing the Patriots just their second loss of the season. For game coverage,
Deshaun Watson was the difference.
The reason.
The brilliant, defining truth.
Before a national television audience. Against Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots. On the same field Tom Brady shared.
It happened on “Sunday Night Football” inside NRG Stadium. That moment we’ve all waited for since the Texans leapt upward in the 2017 draft, instantly placing the future of the franchise in the young hands of a colle
giate national champion. DW4 took his next big step. It was 28-22 Bill O’Brien’s team in the best game the Texans’ king has coached and a powerful, meaningful victory that was a long time coming for the sixthyear leader of Patriots South.
It was a victory that Watson inspired, shaped and carried.
It was everything the Texans dreamt of and hoped for when Watson was first wrapped in red and blue.
“He’s come up big in important games throughout his life — high school, Clemson, Houston,” O’Brien said. “He’s just a great guy to coach. He’s got great poise . ... He kept us in it. That’s what his personality does. He’s resilient. He’s tough.”
Huge things, obviously, remain. Watson’s first playoff victory — which will arrive next month if his Texans (8-4) keep playing with this much inner belief and fire. Advancing to the AFC championship, reaching the Super Bowl and winning the life-changing silver trophy that Brady’s Pats have captured six times.
First things first.
One big step before the next. You have to beat Brady and the NFL’s Evil Empire before you can even picture the final stage.
“It’s pretty big, really, just because it’s Brady,” Watson said. “That’s my role model, a guy that’s been doing it forever . ... It’s pretty awesome to finally get one.”
The dynastic Patriots have always held the Texans back. Way back in 2012, when Gary Kubiak, Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub and Co. went a franchise-best 12-4, then flatlined in the postseason at New England. Ever since O’Brien arrived in ’14 and began forcefully shaping the Texans in his (and the Patriots’) way.
Sunday was just one regularseason W.
Sunday night also meant much more than that for the home team — there’s a reason O’Brien received the game ball from his QB — and saw Watson clearly outplay the greatest quarterback of all time.
Watson: 18-of-25 passing, 234 yards, three touchdowns, 140.7 rating, one receiving TD.
His numbers told only part of the story.
You felt it, then knew it, as the truth became more and more concrete. Your eyes, ultimately, showed you everything.
Watson was electricity, confidence and hope.
Brady was shaky, erratic and often so un-Brady.
It was 14-3 Watson’s team at halftime. Then it was 28-9 Watson’s team as the Texans’ 24-yearold QB reminded TV eyes across the world why he was a serious
MVP candidate three games ago.
Watson proudly sprinted across and danced on his field. He leapt into the arms of an offensive lineman, then was hoisted toward NRG’s roof after another thrilling TD. He was calm, cool and wonderfully contagious on a night when the Texans converted more skeptics than ever before.
Watson has beaten Patrick Mahomes on the road in 2019. He outgunned, outdueled and outshined Brady, whose team entered SNF a near-perfect 10-1.
How did the Texans beat the Pats?
So many ways. Defense. Romeo Crennel. Bradley Roby. DeAndre Hopkins. Aggressive play-calling that beat New England at the game it reinvented.
But really and truthfully, Watson.
Since 2017, he’s increasingly made it feel like anything is possible with the ball in his hands. On Sunday, he stole the show, owned it and never let it go.
“He proves it himself by what he does on the field,” said Hopkins, discussing Watson’s magic touch. “If I’ve got to answer that, then something’s wrong with the scouting and analysis of watching him play football. The guy’s special.”
There were magical Houdini moments that have become the norm. There was precision, super-sleek control and wild wonder. His Texans just kept rolling, and the Pats kept falling away.
We will believe it when we finally see it. Belichick’s 2019 Patriots are in serious trouble. Brady is done. New England’s NFL-altering, two-decade dynasty has an official end date.
But as the minutes ticked away, the score held true, and the Texans overcame B&B on national TV, we could all see the shining moments Sunday night.
The most impressive W of O’Brien’s reign.
The Texans punching mighty New England in the face, then taking over the spotlight and stage.
Watson. Watson. Watson. Everywhere and in the middle of it all.
Taking his next big step. Then dancing on his field as a 42-yearold Brady was forced to watch the Texans’ young quarterback soar.