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The Houston Texans appeared to be on the cusp of a late-game victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 of the 2019 NFL season. Unfortunately, the defense was unable to keep the Saints from getting in position for kicker Will Lutz to hit a game-winning 58-yard field goal.
Just before that, quarterback Deshaun Watson had somehow managed to give his team the lead thanks to a two-play, 75-yard drive that left only 37 seconds on the clock. According to Mark Lane of the Texans Wire, defnsive end J.J. Watt takes responsibility for squandering the lead in the final seconds:
“He obviously put us in a position to win the game and we didn’t do enough to help him,” Watt told reporters after the game. “As the leader of the defense I take that 100 percent on my shoulders. We’ll watch it. We’ll figure it out and get it right for next Sunday.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to Watt's comments. Although he endured his fair share of struggles, Watson ultimately finished with a solid line by completing 20-of-30 passes for 268 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. The fact that he came through when it mattered most only served to further justify his status as a bonafide franchise quarterback.
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Meanwhile, Watt was unable to leave any kind of mark on the game. He was bottled up for the entire evening after failing to record a single stat. The defense gave up 510 total yards while allowing the Saints to go 7-of-11 on third down.
The Texans' defense will have a chance to bounce back against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.
A matchup with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew could be just what this group needs to get on the right track.
