The Houston Texans take on the Denver Broncos Sunday at noon CT at NRG Stadium. We kickoff our 100 facts with a look at the series and also quarterback Deshaun Watson.
series facts
1. The Texans are 8-4 for the first time in team history.
2. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last reformatted, 81/87 teams that started 9-4 made the playoffs with 47 of them having won the division and 22 of them having secured a first-round bye.
3. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last tinkered with, 83/122 teams that started 8-5 made the playoffs with 36/83 of those teams having won the division.
4. The Broncos are 4-8 for the fourth time in franchise history. None of those previous teams made the playoffs.
5. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last reformatted, 1/109 teams that started 5-8 made the playoffs, and that team had to win the division: the 2008 San Diego Chargers. Incidentally, they defeated the Broncos in Week 17 to secure the AFC West.
6. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last reformatted, 0/92 teams that started 4-9 made the playoffs.
7. The Texans are 3-4 against the Broncos, including playoffs, with a 1-1 record at home.
8. The Texans’ 3-4 record against the Broncos, including playoffs, is their best against any AFC West opponent:
Raiders: 8-4
Chiefs: 5-6
Broncos: 3-4
Chargers: 2-5
9. The Texans are 33-44 in December games with a 19-16 record at home.
10. The Broncos are 503-441-10 in December games, including playoffs, with a 195-269-3 on the road.
11. Houston is 97-115 in early afternoon games with a 62-53 record at home.
12. Since 1970, Denver is 68-78-1 in early afternoon games with a 20-26-1 record in the Central Time Zone.
deshaun watson facts
13. Watson is tied with Kirk Cousins for the fourth-most touchdown passes in the NFL with 23.
14. Watson’s 8.1 yards per pass attempt is tied with Jimmy Garoppolo for the seventh-highest overall.
15. Watson’s 105.9 passer rating is the seventh-highest in the NFL.
16. Watson has taken 35 sacks this year, tied with Russell Wilson for the fifth-most overall.
17. Watson is tied with Josh Allen for the third-most fourth quarter comebacks in the NFL with three.
18. Watson is tied with Carolina’s Kyle Allen for the 13th-most play-action passes with 90.
19. Watson has run 73 run-pass options, the third-most in the NFL. The 542 yards gained off these plays are also third-most in the NFL.
20. Watson has thrown 52 times off run-pass option, the third-most overall.
21. Among quarterbacks, Watson’s 19 rushes off run-pass option are the third-most in the NFL.
22. Watson is tied with Dak Prescott for the 10th-most times blitzed at 134.
23. Watson has had to scramble out of pass attempts 29 times, the fifth-most in the NFL.
24. Watson is tied with Matt Ryan for the third-most red zone touchdown passes with 16.
25. Watson’s 69.1% completion percentage is the highest in the NFL among quarterbacks who have started every game since Week 1.
