When a club takes a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft, they expect him to lead the team to a championship.
Deshaun Watson is aware the Houston Texans have never advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs. As a city, Houston’s NFL history doesn’t include hosting a conference championship game, let alone reaching a Super Bowl.
The Texans selected Watson 12th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft to fix that, and the weight of carrying that burden doesn’t encumber him.
“It’s just in my DNA,” Watson said. “Leadership just comes with responsibility and things like putting the work first. People just follow. That’s how I lead. With putting the weight on my shoulders, I don’t see it that way. I know it’s a lot of pressure to play quarterback, especially for this organization. We want to achieve things this organization hasn’t done.”
The Texans have been close, reaching the AFC divisional playoffs in 2011, 2012, 2016, and 2019. The closest Houston got to an AFC Championship Game was a 24-0 lead over the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in last year’s playoffs. With the No. 6 seed Tennessee Titans trouncing the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens the night before, the Texans were guaranteed to make Houston sports history and host the first ever AFC Championship Game at NRG Stadium.
Instead, the Chiefs stormed back and outscored Houston 51-7 to dash the Texans’ dreams and leave them waiting for next year.
2020 could finally be “next year” as Watson is confident in himself and his offense, which includes an offensive line that is returning all five starters, speedy receivers in Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks, and a former 2016 All-Pro running back in David Johnson.
“I feel like I have the mindset and have the work ethic and the pieces around me to be able to do that,” Watson said. “We’re just taking it one day at a time. If I can just focus on that and not put too much unnecessary pressure on myself, I think things will just go as it should.”
The first step is to be ready for a harrowing September slate that includes matchups against the Chiefs, Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers right out of the gate.
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