The Houston Texans didn’t just earn a statement win over the New England Patriots 28-22 on Sunday Night Football, but provided a statement play that will forever be linked with the victory.
On first-and-goal from the 6-yard line with 9:58 to go in the game, Watson handed off to running back Duke Johnson, who was sweeping to the left side. Johnson handed the ball off to receiver DeAndre Hopkins coming around the right side and then tossed the ball forward to quarterback Deshaun Watson for the All-Pro wideout’s first touchdown pass of the season.
How do y’all like the roles reversed?@deshaunwatson @HoustonTexans #NEvsHOU #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/fTxcmFqcke
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) December 3, 2019
“It was a play we’ve been working on for four weeks,” Watson told reporters after the win. “Right when we got inside the five, I kind of knew the whole play call that was going to be called. That was the play called.”
According to Watson, excitement permeated the huddle.
For Hopkins, even though the play was designed as a pass to the quarterback, he knew that he would have to do an expert job selling the Patriots defense on the fact he might sweep around himself.
“I knew holding onto the ball, getting the guy to commit, it would lead to Deshaun being open,” Hopkins said. “I knew all I had to do was give him the ball.”
Watson credits Hopkins for giving the final deception to make the gadget play work.
Said Watson: “He did a good job of really selling the guys that come up, and then giving me a good pitch enough where I can catch it and dive in. Give all the credit to Hop and the pass. It was good.”
The rudiments for the play were on a two-point conversion the Chicago Bears ran against the Minnesota Vikings in 2017.
“Chicago did it,” Watson explained. “We brought it up. Me and A.J. McCarron were looking at it. We were watching film one day and were like — actually we probably can run that. We threw it out to [offensive coordinator] Tim Kelly, [coach] OB (Bill O’Brien) and then Hop (DeAndre Hopkins) saw it, and Hop of course is like, ‘Let’s do it! Let’s do it!.'”
Another element that made the play work was the chemistry between Watson and Hopkins, an unspoken bond that has led to numerous big connections throughout their three seasons together.
“I knew I had to kind of tuck the ball, wait for him to commit, to throw it to Deshaun,” Hopkins said. “I knew once I threw it to him, he was going to be in.”
Watson said he knew the moment Hopkins was going to release the ball.
“I saw Hop tuck it, took one step, and I knew he was going to pitch it right out,” said Watson. “I just know Hop like the back of my hand. He just threw it up in the air, I got it, scored.”
Watson joked that he appreciated adding the play to his highlight reel because it proves to anybody who will listen that he is a versatile athlete.
“I told him I’m an athlete, could play d-end, safety, all that stuff,” Watson said. “The more you can do, the longer you play in this league. I can do it all.”