Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has seen his fair share of playmakers since taking over as coach for the AFC East club in 2017 — from Tom Brady to his own Josh Allen.
Even before landing in Buffalo, McDermott was the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers from 2011-16 and saw quarterback Cam Newton in practice daily. McDermott’s frame of reference is extensive, which gives him unique insight into Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“I think he’s playing at a very high level,” McDermott told the Houston media on a conference call Tuesday. “He’s accurate, he gets them in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage, he does a lot just in terms of generating plays.”
Watson finished 2019 with 26 passing touchdowns, rushed for seven more, and even caught one from receiver DeAndre Hopkins in the Texans’ 28-22 win over the New England Patriots in Week 13 on Sunday Night Football.
It isn’t just Watson’s playmaking on the football field that has impressed McDermott. Leading up to the 2017 NFL draft, when the Bills were doing their diligence to determine whether to go all-in with Tyrod Taylor or provide him competition, McDermott had a chance to spend time with Watson and came away impressed with the former Clemson Tiger “as a person.”
Said McDermott: “I don’t know him that well, honestly, but just wanted to say that because he seems like a class act through and through.
“Off the field and on the field he’s one of the better weapons in the game.”
McDermott and the Bills will have a chance to see how well Watson is as one of the game’s better weapons when Buffalo faces Houston in the AFC wild-card Saturday at 3:35 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium. A win for either team could send them to either Baltimore or Kansas City depending on the outcome of the second wild-card game between Tennessee and New England on Sunday.