In 2018, the Houston Texans owned the worst red zone offense for team’s in the NFL playoffs, scoring touchdowns at a 50% clip. After six weeks of 2019 play, they are the NFL’s cream of the crop, leading the league in red zone touchdown rate at 71.43%.
The Texans aren’t just taking advantage of their red zone visits, they are getting there often. Houston is seventh in points scored (162), despite two home performances in which they combined for a measly 23 points.
How are the Texans so successful in the red zone?
“I think the biggest thing is being able to lock in and focus once we’re down there and being able to execute at a high level,” said quarterback Deshaun Watson on Wednesday. “Everyone being on the same page, and then the self-inflicted penalties — false starts and illegal formations, holdings, things like that. We’ve been very, very sharp down there.”
The Texans offense is the sharpest it has ever been in the red zone. Watson won’t take credit himself — and he shouldn’t, it’s a team effort, especially at the most challenging area of the gridiron. However, the quarterback is one of the NFL’s most efficient red zone shot-callers.
According to Player Profiler, Watson is hitting 69.2% of red zone throws, good for sixth in the NFL. Combine that with a league-leading (for a quarterback) five rushing touchdowns, and the Texans humming offense is far from easy to handle in an advantageous place for defenses.
