The Houston Texans are 0-2 for the second time in the Deshaun Watson era, hardly a statistic anyone thought would happen to the former 2017 first-round pick.
The first time it happened to the Texans was in Watson’s first full season as a starter in 2018. Houston even fell as far down as 0-3 before collecting their first win.
Watson has been here before, and he knows what it will take to get out of the morass.
“No one likes to lose or at least I don’t like to lose,” Watson told reporters after the 33-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at NRG Stadium. “So the energy of course is, coming off the field is a little low, but at the end of the day you got to keep, you can’t get discouraged.”
In the abstract, the Texans are merely on a two-game losing streak. If it occurred in the middle of the year or even in late November, it would have to be contextualized with their status in the playoff race.
What fixed the Texans’ 0-3 record in 2018 was a nine-game winning streak.
“It’s a long year,” said Watson. “Yeah, this organization’s been, since I’ve been here, we went and started [0-3], I think in 2018, but it’s a new year. So we don’t want to start 0-2, but, hey, that’s where we are.”
Watson says the Texans have a “24-hour rule” and will learn from the mistakes and rest their bodies to turn the page and get ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 at Heinz Field.
Said Watson: “We just got to keep pushing forward and that’s the biggest thing we can do. And that’s what I’m going to do, find ways to continue to get better and keep trusting all my guys that’s in that locker room. If we continue to do that, stay as one and don’t let it break us up and don’t let it fall into a snowball, then things will be fine.”
The Texans will have to pack some snow on the road against the Steelers. If they can’t get a win against the AFC North club, their postseason hopes may melt away.