The Houston Texans edged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium to clinch the AFC South for the sixth time since the division’s 2002 inception. While the team earned a hard fought victory, there were plenty of red marks to go around for the offense.
quarterback
Deshaun Watson may have been selected for the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl on Tuesday, but it wasn’t from the type of play he exhibited against the Buccaneers. Going 19-of-32 for 184 yards and an interception, Watson couldn’t find his usual rhythm to bury the Buccaneers, who gave away five turnovers on the afternoon. Watson was playing with a right ankle aggravation of some kind as he was seen clutching his heel in the third quarter. The Texans’ field general rushed for a 19-yard gain that helped setup the go-ahead field goal. Watson displayed plenty of heart to get the win, but there was still ugliness on the stat sheet.
Grade: B-
running backs
There wasn’t a lot of daylight in Tampa as Carlos Hyde rushed for 27 yards on 17 carries. He did punch in a 1-yard touchdown that was the only Texans touchdown on the afternoon. Duke Johnson carried two times for four yards and had a fumble. In the receiving game, Johnson had a catch for 12 yards, and Hyde had a reception for 10. The run game was not very effective for Houston.
Grade: C
receivers
The receiving corps had a bumpy performance with DeAndre Hopkins catching five passes for 23 yards, and Kenny Stills leading the team with five catches for 57 yards. Will Fuller was knocked out of the game after hauling in two passes for 11 yards. DeAndre Carter, who is really the team’s returner, had one of his better performances on the season with two catches for 44 yards, including a 39-yard catch on a third-and-6 from the Texans’ 30-yard line that flipped the field and kept the drive alive with 8:54 to go in the game. The Texans were facing one of the best cornerbacks of the season in Carlton Davis, but they did step up in key moments to make big plays.
Grade: B
tight end
Second-year tight end Jordan Akins was targeted two times yet failed to haul in a single reception. On a second-and-4 from the Tampa Bay 25-yard line with 8:13 to go in the game, Akins dropped a sure pass on a screen that would have given the Texans decent field position to cap off the drive with a touchdown instead of the 37-yard field goal they settled with.
Darren Fells was not spectacular as he has been in some games, recording just three catches for 27 yards, all obtained in the first half.
Grade: B-
offensive line
The offensive line wasn’t as dominant as they had been in previous games. Quarterback Deshaun Watson took six quarterback hits and was also sacked five times. The run game churned 68 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. Center Nick Martin was called for a hands to the face penalty. While they didn’t have the best of games, like the rest of the offense, they did just enough to protect the lead, or retake it when needed, and get the AFC South title.
