Tag: AFC Wild-Card

One play that made S Mike Adam’s time with the Texans worthwhile

Safety Mike Adams announced his retirement from the NFL. There is one play that made his time with the Houston Texans worthwhile for everyone.

Houston Texans safety Mike Adams announced his retirement from the NFL on March 4. Though the 16-year veteran spent six games with the AFC South club in 2019, Adams’ time with the Texans was consequential.

It wasn’t so much what he did in the regular season, collecting just three tackles. Rather, it was the 38-year-old’s performance in the AFC wild-card versus the Buffalo Bills that fans and the organization will never forget.

On a first-and-10 from the Buffalo 25-yard line, quarterback Josh Allen dumped off a screen pass to running back Devin Singletary that flipped the field for a 38-yard gain. The chunk play could have been worse if not for Adams and his experience of playing 228 regular season games to that point. The two-time Pro Bowler waited for Singletary to come his way and used the sideline as a defender to make the tackle.

“The tackle he made on the screen pass down the sideline, using the sideline properly to — that could have been a touchdown,” coach Bill O’Brien said on Jan. 8.

If it would have been a touchdown, the Bills would have reclaimed the lead after the Texans had just secured it 19-16 on their last drive. Presuming the Bills make the extra point and create a 23-19 lead, quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense would have had a little over four minutes to drive for a touchdown.

Instead, because of Adams’ tackle, the Bills’ drive stalled with Allen taking a 19-yard sack on fourth-and-27 from Houston’s 42-yard line.

Adams produced four tackles, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble in his 66 snaps in the wild-card game, 55 of which came on defense.

Said O’Brien: “He’s just a really good guy, good pro. He’s been around a long time, studies well, prepares well. He’s been really good in that room.”

“Any time you have a guy on your team or multiple guys on your team that have played like 10-plus years in the league, they’re really guys that you want to point to the younger player and say, ‘Look at this guy. Here’s a guy who’s lasted a long time. This is a good guy to ask about how he lasted that long relative to doing what’s best for the team, taking care of his body, just having a good team attitude his whole career,'” said O’Brien.

Now, the Texans will have to look for another safety to fill the position that Adams vacates.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson gave RB Carlos Hyde confidence after his fumble against the Bills

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson gave running back Carlos Hyde encouragement after his fumble against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card.

The Houston Texans had the Buffalo Bills right where they wanted them.

With first-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 5:10 to go in the game, the Texans were a touchdown away from taking the lead against the Bills, who held a 16-0 halftime lead.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson took the snap and pitched the ball to the left for running back Carlos Hyde to dash into the end zone uncontested. However, Hyde couldn’t get a handle on the ball and saw it fumble out of bounds for a 4-yard loss.

In the aftermath, the 24-year-old gave encouraging words to the 29-year-old who had a goof-up in his first career playoff game.

“He just lost a little bit of focus on the ball and dropped it and I knew he was frustrated because it was his moment to score and in a big-time game to change the atmosphere and change the momentum,” Watson told reporters Wednesday. “So, I knew he was down and he was frustrated and we talked about protecting the ball and catching the ball, looking things in all week, and I knew exactly what the next play call was because me, [coach] OB (Bill O’Brien) and [offensive coordinator] Tim Kelly talked about the first couple of plays once we get inside the five, what it’s going to be.”

The next play was a roll-out from Watson with Hyde all alone in the right flat. If Hyde could haul in the simple reception, the Texans would have a 17-16 lead over the Bills with less than five minutes in regulation.

“So, before I even got the play call out, I told him ‘Yo, it’s over with, I’m coming to you right now. So, refocus and get ready to score,'” said Watson. “Then I called the play and right before I even faked it, I called his name, ‘Los’ and I just tossed it to him and he got in and did what he had to do.”

The Texans would go on to beat the Bills 22-19 in overtime. Now, the Texans will face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional Sunday at 2:05 p.m. CT. Houston may not have gotten this far if not for Watson giving a little encouragement to Hyde and helping him get over what could have been a big blunder.

Texans QB Deshaun Watson is the best thing in Texas

Texas Monthly published what is the best thing in Texas. At least for the week, it is Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

What can leading your team from a 16-0 halftime deficit to a playoff win in the AFC wild-card do for you? Land you as the “Best Thing in Texas” according to Texas Monthly.

Writer Dan Solomon wrote about quarterback Deshaun Watson and his efforts in helping the Houston Texans prevail 22-19 over the the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 4. Understandably, the 34-yard pass to running back Taiwan Jones was emblematic for Solomon on how extraordinary the two-time Pro Bowler is.

In overtime, the Texans needed someone to step up. As the Buffalo pass rush came after Watson, he converted a third-and-18 play from his own 19 yard line on a possession that, had he failed, would have put enormous pressure on his defense to prevent a game-winning field goal. Then, moments later, on a seven-man blitz from the Bills, Watson escaped what appeared to be a sure sack, then another, to find an open receiver in Taiwan Jones. He used the fact that so much of the defense was trying to take Watson’s head off to charge forward for nearly 30 yards. The Texans were then in a position to win the game, and they did.

Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field goal helped the Texans win their fourth playoff game in franchise history. It was also a much needed exorcism of sorts for Houston sports fans as there were comparisons all week between the Tennessee Titans, who were once in Houston from 1960-96 and who owns the franchise record and team history for blowing a 35-3 lead to the Bills in the 1992 AFC wild-card. If the late Bob McNair’s founding of a brand new franchise in 2002 didn’t let Houston sports fans know it was a new era, then the comeback heroics of Watson certainly did.

The Texans face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional Sunday at 2:05 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium. A win would give the Texans their first AFC Championship Game appearance in club history.

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Texans S Justin Reid calls Deshaun Watson ‘Houdini’ for daring escape against the Bills

Safety Justin Reid was impressed with the “Houdini” act from Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson to get away from Buffalo Bills defenders.

It is a second-and-6 no one will forget.

With 4:16 to go in overtime between the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills Saturday in the AFC wild-card at NRG Stadium, quarterback Deshaun Watson was about to take a hit on an all-out blitz from DB Siran Neal and LB Matt Milano.

Texans safety Justin Reid was watching the video board at NRG and saw the situation about to unfold in Watson’s eighth sack of the game.

“I saw the blitz coming from the screen,” Reid told reporters. “At that point, my heart sunk. I saw him come free. I was like, ‘Aw, man.’

“And then he somehow, Houdini again.”

Watson got away from the Bills defenders and found running back Taiwan Jones, who turned the reception into a 34-yard gain to setup Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard game-winning field goal to send Houston to the divisional round for the fourth time in franchise history.

For Reid, the great escape from Watson was just part of the legend that the two-time Pro Bowler wrote throughout the season with his stellar play and big heart.

Said Reid: “He done lost an eye this year. He done all types of things, spun out of it, threw it to Taiwan. Taiwan, especially last week, Taiwan went off last week, and then he came and made that huge play for us, got it down to the 10-yard line.

“Unbelievable feeling.”

The Texans will now face the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 12 at 2:05 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium. Houston came away from the eventual AFC West champion’s home with a 31-24 win in Week 6, and it was also due to some of Watson’s playmaking ability. The Texans will need him to summon additional Houdini tricks if the Texans are to reach their first conference title game in club history, and the city of Houston’s first AFC Championship Game since 1979.

7 crazy stats from the Texans’ 22-19 OT win over the Bills

The Houston Texans produced some wild statistics en route to their 22-19 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card.

The Houston Texans took care of the Buffalo Bills 22-19 in overtime in the AFC wild-card Saturday at NRG Stadium.

Led by quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive end J.J. Watt, the Texans overcame a 13-0 halftime deficit to storm back and win the franchise’s fourth ever postseason win.

With the victory, the Texans advance to the divisional round to face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Here are seven crazy stats from the wild-card game that helped Houston advance.

1. deshaun watson is just as good as brock osweiler, matt schaub

deshaun-watson-connects-carlos-hyde-get-lead-bills
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The two-time Pro Bowler threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to running back Carlos Hyde in the fourth quarter, and it helped Watson tie Osweiler and Schaub for the most postseason passing touchdowns in club history with two apiece.

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Deshaun Watson says he carried Bills on first touchdown because it was the playoffs

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson says facing the Buffalo Bills in a playoff game forced him to carry two defenders on his back for a touchdown.

The Houston Texans needed another spark after defensive end J.J. Watt provided the first with his sack of Josh Allen on third down that held the Buffalo Bills to a field goal in the AFC wild-card.

Down 16-0 and 1:41 to go in the third quarter, quarterback Deshaun Watson scrambled on a first-and-10 from the 20-yard line. Ultimately, two Bills defenders could not stop the 6-2, 220-pound quarterback, and were along for the ride as Watson bulled his way to the end zone for Houston’s first touchdown.

“I mean, it’s the playoffs, so you win or you go home,” Watson told reporters after the Texans’ 22-19 win Saturday at NRG Stadium. “We were down and definitely wanted to make a spark, and I just made a play.”

Rookie fullback Cullen Gillaspia laid a block on a Bills defender that opened up the running lane for Watson to take advantage.

“I just knew I had to find something to, I guess, keep going, and I knew I wasn’t going down,” said Watson. “I kind of just pushed forward and got in the end zone.”

After the touchdown, Watson added a scramble to the right pylon for a two-point conversion to cut the Bills’ lead to 16-8 with a little over 16:00 total left in the ballgame.

ESPN concocts a stat that proves how great Texans QB Deshaun Watson is

ESPN Stats & Info came up with a stat that shows just how great Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is.

The fun thing with stats is one can make them say whatever they want.

There is no official statistic tracking the comeback deficits of quarterbacks at both the college and professional level; it is contrived. However, even in the framing that ESPN Stats & Info used, their stat only proves how dynamic and game-changing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, Watson is the only quarterback in the past 15 postseasons to log a 14-point comeback in both college and the pros.

Of course, Watson engineered a 16-point comeback against the Buffalo Bills in the Texans’ 22-19 overtime win the AFC wild-card. But he also executed a 14-point comeback against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football Playoff title game.

“That’s just me,” Watson told reporters. “I play the game. I don’t never look at the scoreboard. I just keep fighting. I’ve been told, especially at a young age and especially that, when I was [at Clemson], [coach] Dabo (Swinney) used to always tell us, regardless if we’re up or if we’re down, don’t never look at the scoreboard. Keep fighting and keep pushing forward.”

Watson finished the game completing 20-of-25 for 247 yards and a touchdown while adding 14 carries for 55 yards and a score. The two-time Pro Bowler was able to execute in key moments despite taking seven sacks on the afternoon.

Now, the Texans head to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 12 at 2:05 p.m. If the Texans are able to upset the second-seeded Chiefs led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, then Houston would advance to its first AFC Championship Game. If the Tennessee Titans, who stunned the New England Patriots 20-13, are able to beat the No. 1 Baltimore Ravens, then the Texans could host the AFC Championship Game, which would be the first conference title game hosted by a Houston NFL team.

 

Warren Moon gave Texans QB Deshaun Watson encouragement before Bills playoff game

Former Houston Oilers QB Warren Moon gave Texans QB Deshaun Watson some encouragement on the eve of the AFC wild-card versus the Buffalo Bills.

The night before the Houston Texans took on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card Saturday at NRG Stadium, Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon sent quarterback Deshaun Watson some encouraging words.

Who knows what Moon told Watson specifically? Aside from both being franchise quarterbacks of their respective NFL teams in Houston, the two have shared a bond since Watson entering the league as a first-round pick in 2017.

“For him to take time out of his day, to take time out of his life and his career and his family to be able to just give me advice, to hit me up randomly and call me and whatever, whenever we see each other in the offseason, he always come up to me and talk to me,” Watson told reporters after the 22-19 overtime win against the Bills. “I mean, it’s special.”

Unlike Moon, who was subject to the Bills coming back against his Houston team, now known as the Tennessee Titans, in the 1992 AFC wild-card, Watson executed a comeback with the Texans, a totally separate franchise, to at least help Houston sports fans exorcise the demons of having Buffalo spoil their postseason dreams.

Watson couldn’t have had the opportunity if not for what Moon accomplished in his Hall of Fame career.

Said Watson: “For me to be able to look up to someone like that, and for him to pave the way for a lot of us young quarterbacks coming up, it’s special. So I definitely don’t take that for granted, and I appreciate him for sure.”

The city of Houston appreciates Watson, too, and his efforts to propel the Texans to the divisional round of the playoffs. Now, the Texans will take on another franchise that bested Moon in his last game in Houston: the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium for a 2:05 p.m. CT kickoff on Jan. 12, and Watson could use more encouraging words from Moon.

Instant analysis: J.J. Watt sparks Texans‘ 22-19 comeback over the Bills

Defensive end J.J. Watt sparked the Houston Texans’ comeback that led to a 22-19 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card.

On Saturday afternoon, defensive J.J. Watt took the field for the Houston Texans for the first time since Oct. 27 when the defensive end tore his pectoral muscle when making a tackle for loss on Oakland Raiders running back Josh Jacobs in the 27-24 win.

The injury was initially believed to be a season-ending one for Watt as the timetable is usually 4-6 months, but he returned to the field in a little over two months, and he immediately made an impact for Houston as he led the huddle to hype up the team before the game even started.

The first half, however, was quiet for the 6-5 product out of Wisconsin as he failed to record a sack, and was really on the field for only third-down situations.

The Texans as a whole, were silent in the first half also, as they were held scoreless and to only 89 yards of total offense.

Halfway through the third quarter, however, Watt recorded a huge sack on third-and-8 that kept the Bills out of the end zone and also ignited the crowd at NRG Stadium.

Even though the Bills scored a field goal on the drive that extended their lead to 16-0, that play by Watt fueled the team and Watt himself. 

The former Badger was shown on the big screen of NRG screaming at the top of his lungs. The Texans followed up the Bills’ field goal with a touchdown drive, which was scored by quarterback Deshaun Watson.

In the second half, Watt was on the field for more plays, and he made his impact felt, too. Watt pressured quarterback Josh Allen on multiple plays, and was right in the middle of a Texans defense that recorded three second-half sacks.

Houston outscored Buffalo 22-6, which included 16 unanswered, after Watt’s sack. Something about that play gave Houston an adrenaline shot when it seemed like the team was on the verge of defeat.

Instead, the Texans now advance to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs where they will travel to either Kansas City or Baltimore pending the results of the Tennessee Titans versus the New England Patriots AFC wild-card on Saturday night

Despite all the injuries, one thing was made clear ⁠— Watt is still a huge piece to the Texans’ defense, and the longer he is on the field, the more he energizes the unit. It will be shocking if he is on a strong situational snap count like the first half against the Texans’ opponent next weekend.

Ex-Texans CB Kevin Johnson showed QB Deshaun Watson a tell on 34-yard pass to RB Taiwan Jones

Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson says that Buffalo Bills CB Kevin Johnson showed him a tell on the 34-yard overtime pass to RB Taiwan Jones.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson spent four seasons with the Houston Texans as he was their former 2015 first-round pick. Of course, he would have knowledge on his old team.

However, his old quarterback had knowledge on him, and it came into play on the 34-yard pass to running back Taiwan Jones that setup Ka’imi Fairbairn’s game-winning 28-yard field goal in overtime of the AFC wild-card Saturday evening at NRG Stadium.

“I knew it was blitz 0,” Watson told Lisa Salters of ESPN after the game. “I checked the play. Kevin Johnson was here last year, so he knew the signal, seen him bail, and I just told myself to stay up.”

Watson shed two would-be sacks from Bills defenders and scrambled out to his right where he found Jones, whose 34-yard reception was more to do with his yards after the catch than Watson’s air yards.

Nonetheless, they would not have been possible if the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback had not stayed upright.

“It’s do or die right now, and all the work I put in in the offseason, I just had to make a play,” said Watson.

According to the former 2017 first-round draft pick from Clemson, he left little cards in the lockers of his teammates prior to the playoff game. On each card it said, “Let’s be great today.”

Said Watson: “So, somebody had to be great today. Why not me?”

Watson finished completing 20-of-25 for 247 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed 14 times for 55 yards and a score.

Because of Watson’s efforts to be great against the Bills, the Texans are in the divisional round of the playoffs for the fourth time in franchise history. The results of the Tennessee Titans versus New England Patriots wild-card bout on Saturday night determine whether the Texans travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens or go to Kansas City to play the Chiefs.