Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and receiver DeAndre Hopkins have been stellar in all four of the team’s nationally televised games this season, posting a 3-1 record.
Watson has collected passer ratings of 114.3, 120.4, 104.6, and 140.7 in bouts with the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 on Monday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars in London in Week 9, the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 on Thursday Night Football, and the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 13.
Week 16’s Saturday encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is part of a nationally televised triple-header on NFL Network, which can only mean the tandem is set to have another explosive game. However, offensive coordinator Tim Kelly believes the two Pro Bowler perform at a high level regardless of the television audience.
“I think they’re good together in every game they play,” Kelly told reporters Wednesday. “They’re two great players that work hard to be on the same page and are able to go out there and make plays consistently.”
Hopkins caught eight passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1, eight passes for 48 yards and a score in Week 9, six catches for 94 yards and two scores in Week 12, and five catches for 64 yards in Week 13, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Watson.
Still, Kelly thinks every game matters to Hopkins and Watson; they don’t mean any more or any less.
Said Kelly: “I think every game they come out there and it’s the most important thing in the world for them to go out there and play well and win. I think those two guys are two of the more competitive players that I’ve ever been around and they come out and they fight to the very end.”
Watson, Hopkins, and the rest of the Texans will be fighting to the last whistle against the Buccaneers. A win over the 7-7 NFC South club will deliver Houston their sixth AFC South title in franchise history, and the second-most in the history of the division behind the Indianapolis Colts’ seven. More importantly, it will get the Texans in the tournament where anything can happen.
