J.J. Watt: 5 Most memorable Houston Texans games
By Brian Emory
2. J.J. Watt Memorable Games: Oct. 9, 2014 vs. Indianapolis Colts
While the Houston Texans didn’t make the playoffs in 2014, the season was still largely seen as a positive one and a step in the right direction for the future. In Bill O’Brien’s first season as the head coach, the Texans improved their win total by seven games from the previous season.
J.J. Watt’s 2014 season was undoubtedly one of his best, as he finished with a whopping 20.5 sacks. Watt became the first player in NFL history to have 20 or more sacks in two consecutive seasons. In addition to all the sacks, Watt recorded 29 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, an interception and five total touchdowns. Unsurprisingly, Watt was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Numerous performances from the 2014 season could have been added to this list, but my personal favorite was the Week 6 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. While the Texans lost a thriller, Watt had an incredible game with two sacks and a fumble recovery that he returned 45 yards for a score.
The Colts had a young star quarterback on their hands in Andrew Luck, and fans of Indianapolis were becoming confident that they would be running the AFC South soon enough. But on this day, Watt reminded Luck and Colts supporters that he would continue to be a menace for the young signal-caller to deal with twice a year.
Another iconic moment of Watt’s career came two weeks earlier in the 2014 season against the Buffalo Bills. Watt intercepted E.J. Manuel and returned the ball 80 yards for a score.
It was this season where Watt really showed that he could do it all. Watt scored five times on the season, and three were receiving touchdowns.