The Houston Texans take on the Atlanta Falcons at noon at NRG Stadium for their Week 5 tilt. Houston doesn’t want to fall to 2-3 in an AFC South that already has all four teams at 2-2, and the Falcons seek to get off the ground with a 2-3 record and not slip to 1-4.
We start off the facts by taking a look at some playoff odds, series facts, and quarterback Deshaun Watson.
series facts
1. The Texans are 2-2 for the seventh time in franchise history. None of those previous six teams made the playoffs with only the 2009 team finishing with a winning record at 9-7.
2. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last tinkered with, 108/278 teams that started 2-2 made the playoffs with 44/108 playoff qualifiers winning the division.
3. The Falcons are 1-3 for the 15th time in franchise history. 2/14 of those previous teams made the playoffs, and both were as wild-cards.
4. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last realigned, 29/194 teams that started 1-3 made the playoffs.
5. This is the first time the Falcons will play in “NRG Stadium.” Their previous encounter in Houston was when the venue was called “Reliant Stadium” on Dec. 4, 2011, when Houston beat Atlanta 17-10.
6. The Texans’ 2-2 record against the Falcons is their second-best against a NFC South opponent:
Buccaneers: 3-1
Falcons: 2-2
Panthers: 2-3
Saints: 2-3
7. The Texans are 31-34 in October with a 22-14 record at home.
8. The Falcons are 92-118-2 in October with a 39-59 record on the road.
9. Houston is 95-113 in early afternoon games with a 61-53 record at home.
10. The Falcons are 48-82 in the Central Time Zone with a 29-47 record in the early afternoon time slot.
deshaun watson facts
11. Watson is tied with Aaron Rodgers for the third-highest “time to throw,” according to Next Gen Stats, with 2.92 seconds.
12. Watson has the third-most sacks in the NFL with 18.
13. Opposing defenses have blitzes Watson 47 times, tied with Jameis Winston and Lamar Jackson for the fourth-most in the NFL.
14. Watson has scrambled nine times this season, the sixth-most in the NFL.
15. Watson is tied with Patrick Mahomes for the fourth-highest average depth of target in the NFL at 10.0.
16. Watson is tied with Josh Allen and Russell Wilson for the most red zone rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with two.
17. Watson has the eighth-highest red zone completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least seven passes at 66.7%.
18. Watson is tied with Winston, Gardner Minshew, and Andy Dalton for the second-most sacks on first down with six.
19. Watson is tied with Wilson for the third-most second down sacks in the NFL with six.
20. Among quarterbacks who have started every game since Week 1, Watson has the eighth-highest second down passer rating at 109.5.
21. According to Next Gen Stats, Watson has the seventh-highest “intended air yards” at 9.8.
22. According to Next Gen Stats, Watson is tied with Allen for the sixth-highest “air yards to the sticks” among starting quarterbacks since Week 1 at 0.6 yards. In other words, Watson’s passes are 0.6 yards beyond the line to gain on average.
23. Watson is tied with Allen, Winston, and Marcus Mariota for the second-most third-down sacks in the NFL with six.
24. Watson is tied with Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford for the eighth-most third down conversions through the air with 16.
25. Watson has taken 14 quarterback hits this season, tied with Mahomes and Matt Ryan for the fifth-most in the league.
