Receiver Brandin Cooks was the key component to the Houston Texans’ 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
The 27-year-old caught eight passes for 161 yards and a touchdown as the Texans earned their first win of the season, improving their record at 1-4.
According to quarterback Deshaun Watson, one of the big parts of the game plan was to involve Cooks was the start.
“I know Cooky didn’t have a catch last week so we wanted to get him going early,” said Watson, who threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns on the afternoon. “He had a big day, made some big-time catches. But that’s what we wanted to do, just kind of set the tone from the jump and get myself in a rhythm because as far as I go, the offense goes.”
Even though the biggest part of the offense coming to life was through the passing game, Houston also sought to establish the run game. While it wasn’t dominant, the Texans at least presented the notion of balance with 129 yards on 22 carries. Running back David Johnson carried 17 times for 96 yards.
Watson wasn’t as efficient with his 25-of-35 completions. Though he had a 109.1 passer rating, Watson did throw two interceptions.
“They got my hand on one throw, the interception, and the other interception,” said Watson. “I actually put it out a little bit more and Sidney Jones tipped it up for the safety, so they made two good plays on that, but outside of that everything was pretty much clean. And the David Johnson throw in the back of the end zone, I had just a hair of a second, they had a little game and I got hit so I had to throw it a little early.
“But outside of that, everything else was pretty clean, and that’s what we wanted to do as an operation, just focus on that and getting in a rhythm.”
If the Texans can carry that rhythm throughout the rest of the season, Houston’s offense ought to compete with every team on the balance of the schedule.