Jan. 7, 2012.
The Houston Texans won their first playoff game in franchise history. A rookie defensive end J.J. Watt played a major role in the victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tied 10-10 late in the first half, Watt pick-sixed Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton en route to an eventual win.
“Obviously at the time it was unbelievably exciting because it was the organization’s first-ever playoff win, so it was extremely exciting for many reasons,” Watt said on Wednesday. “Obviously, the pick-six, knowing that I could catch the ball and run and not fall, and then everything that came after it. It was a special time and I think that the excitement, the energy, the atmosphere, the buzz around the city during that time was so incredible.”
On Saturday, against the Buffalo Bills, Watt will try to spark a return of the magical feeling while returning from a torn pectoral in Week 8, Oct. 27, of the regular season. If he helps the Texans win, he will do so in the postseason for only the third time in his career.
“I think that as a guy who’s been here for nine years, that feeling is what I want to capture and magnify,” Watt said. “I feel like – not that we haven’t had that same, but there was something magical about that and I want to create that magic again. The only way to do that is by winning. There’s no special sauce. You just have to win. So, the only way to win is to put in the work and then to make it happen on the field and execute. That’s why we practice so hard, that’s why we work so hard and that’s our goal.”
Watt will look to get the Texans their first postseason win since 2017. He wants to emulate parts of the inaugural franchise playoff’s berth (the win), but not at all (the loss to the Baltimore Ravens the next week).
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