The Houston Texans have had an inauspicious offseason, which has invited fans and critics to be negative about the AFC South champions’ prospects in 2020.
However, Pro Football Focus once again highlights why the Texans, even after the trading of DeAndre Hopkins and their small five-man draft class, shouldn’t be ruled out from serious contention this season.
Using patented PFF analytics, the football scouting firm produced an 88.6 grade in fourth quarter and overtime in 2019 for the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Watson even had a 10.3 yards per attempt, which, like the PFF grade, ranked first in the NFL in fourth quarter and overtime.
Deshaun Watson is CLUTCH pic.twitter.com/E4CyC80x9d
— PFF (@PFF) May 26, 2020
Pro Football Focus grades almost have an alchemical quality to them. Spectators know what a touchdown is. They know what yards are. They can calculate even yards per attempt and passer rating. Folks just have to trust a PFF grade is representative of reality.
In Watson’s case, it is. Last season, Watson was tied with Russell Wilson and Josh Allen for the most game-winning drives in the NFL with five. Additionally, Watson was tied for the fourth-most fourth quarter comebacks in the NFL with three. There was a three-way tie for first place between Wilson, Allen, and Jimmy Garoppolo. Maybe if Wil Lutz doesn’t nail a game-winning field goal for the New Orleans Saints in Week 1, Watson is tied with those three for his share of first place in fourth quarter comebacks.
The reality is the Texans are never out of it as long as they have Watson under center. Coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has taken a gamble in retooling the receiving corps to be built around speed and quickness rather than featuring the best receiver in the NFL. The dynamic play from Watson, which has given Houston a chance in every ballgame since 2017, ought to give O’Brien’s “layers” approach a chance to be successful in 2020.