The Indianapolis Colts kicked the Houston Texans in the face with a 21-7 win the 2018 AFC wild-card at NRG Stadium on Jan. 5, 2019.
Deshaun Watson had not lost a game as a starting quarterback by more than a touchdown going back to high school. In his first postseason action as a professional, that fun fact didn’t hold up.
As the consummate pro who learns from his negative experiences, the two-time Pro Bowl field general is drawing on that loss to aid him in his preparation to overcome the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in the 2019 AFC wild-card at NRG Stadium.
“It helps a lot, just knowing that for everyone going into every game, every play matters, but you don’t really know it until you actually experienced that, and that’s what we experienced last year,” Watson told reporters Tuesday. “It’s going to happen fast, it’s going to come by fast, the game is going to go by faster, the plays, the players play a little bit faster than the regular season. Everything just speeds up.”
Watson was 29-of-49 for 235 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and took three sacks. On the ground, Watson tried to make plays with his legs, rushing eight times for 76 yards. The Colts defense locked down the Texans offense that was already down to receiver DeAndre Hopkins as its lone credible threat, and he was struggling with a shoulder injury sustained in the game.
“Just being able to be prepared and see how the energy and everything changes in a playoff game, it really helps out to kind of get that firsthand look last year,” said Watson. “I know it didn’t go our way but we’ve got another opportunity this year.”
What makes Saturday’s game with the Bills meaningful to Watson is that the game unto itself is its own new season compacted into a 60-minute span.
Said Watson: “All you’ve got to do is be the best team that day for those 60 minutes. So, if you can do that, regardless of what your ranking is or what your record is, it doesn’t matter and everyone is fighting for that one goal.”
The Texans have not won a playoff game since Jan. 7, 2017, when they beat the Oakland Raiders. Watson was a mere two days away from leading the Clemson Tigers to a 35-31 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff championship game.
Like it was for Watson at that time, leading the Texans in the postseason is also a great privilege.
“It’s a blessing, it’s a great honor, it’s a great opportunity for us and this franchise and everyone in that locker room,” said Watson. “We’re definitely going to fight all 60 minutes and see what happens.”
