All Houston Texans fans should be thankful for Deshaun Watson.
In a year unlike any other, Houston Texans fans have been looking for positives and silver linings during what seemed like an otherwise lost season, and one positive is Deshaun Watson. After putting an interim head coach and general manager in place, things started to look bleak as the Texans crept to a 1-6 record while still lacking draft picks to rejuvenate the roster.
However, the hero known as DW4 has not given up on the season and has led the Houston Texans to its most prosperous portion of the season yet.
The city of Houston, and the entire NFL for that matter, was well aware of Deshaun Watson’s greatness coming out of college and during his legendary stretch of games during his injury-shortened rookie season. With that being said, I don’t think anyone expected him to reach the heights he has risen to since Week 5, solidifying himself as a Top 3 quarterback in the league.
In the past six games, (which coincidentally lines up with a certain coach’s firing), Deshaun Watson has accounted for 16 total touchdowns, 0 turnovers, 1750 passing yards, and nearly 71 percent accuracy (per SportsCenter).
#Texans QB @deshaunwatson is now the first player with at least 300 passing yards and four touchdown passes on Thanksgiving Day since 2015. He is also only the eighth quarterback in NFL history to do so on Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/mUe8NXrFsT
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) November 26, 2020
Entering the Thanksgiving day game against Detroit, Watson joined legendary status with the second-highest QB rating of all-time, sandwiched between Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson (minimum 1500 attempts). After a masterful performance in which he threw four touchdowns and no interceptions, Watson has moved into first place all-time in that category.
Though many had suggested Deshaun Watson might regress without the security blanket of his former No. 1 receiver, he has thrived with his onslaught of weapons, particularly on the deep ball. Even without playmakers Randall Cobb and Kenny Stills on the active roster, Watson completed 10 out of 12 passes more than 10 yards, resulting in three touchdowns and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Since Week 5, Watson has been the highest-graded QB in the entire NFL at a 92.2 mark (per PFF).
Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson playing for future seasons
Despite the overall 4-7 record and the playoffs likely out of the realm of possibility, the Houston Texans are playing for their future and are likely attracting many head coach and GM candidates along the way with Watson’s stellar play.
On the season, Watson has accumulated 3201 passing yards, 24 scores through the air to only five interceptions, 68.9 percent accuracy, 293 rushing yards, and two more touchdowns on the ground.
Deshaun Watson might have been on track to win MVP if the team was performing better in the win column, but that shouldn’t take away from an otherworldly season and one of the best QB seasons in franchise history. Without draft picks in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, it would be wise to retain Will Fuller V in free agency, and find a capable replacement for David Johnson and the 31st ranked rushing attack.
Decisions will need to be made on the future roles for Cooks, Cobb, and Stills, but providing ample options for Deshaun Watson is the biggest priority after finding the right head coach and general manager to sturdy this volatile ship.
It may not have seemed like it throughout 2020, but the future is bright in Houston as long as Deshaun Watson is throwing passes.