HOUSTON — The Houston Texans may be 3-7 after their 27-20 victory over the New England Patriots, but their record is not reflective of Deshaun Watson’s play this season.
The quarterback, who signed a huge four-year contract extension before the start of the season, has been one of the few bright spots for the Texans in 2020.
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On Sunday against New England, Watson completed 28 of 37 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns, tying a career high with his fifth game with 300 or more passing yards in a season. Watson’s 241 first-half passing yards were a career high for a first half, and his 18 completions are also his most in a first half, according to ESPN Stats & Information. It was also his second career game with three total touchdowns in a first half.
As the Texans face a pivotal offseason, there are many reasons why the open general manager and head coach jobs may be less attractive than other openings this offseason: no first- or second-round draft picks in 2021, a lack of young playmakers on both sides of the ball and several bloated contracts.
But Watson’s play, without DeAndre Hopkins and an ineffective running game, shows why Houston could be a destination for any elite coaching candidate.
Troubling trend: Again, the Texans failed to run the ball effectively on Sunday.