When Deshaun Watson plays, the Houston Texans are must-watch TV. Subsequently, the NFL has made the Texans a regular during the hours with the nation watching: prime time.
Watson’s Texans respond to playing in prime time with a national audience watching. Since his debut NFL start, a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on “Thursday Night Football,” the 24-year-old is 6-2 on prime time, with losses coming against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 and New Orleans Saints in 2019 Week 1.
Why is he so good in prime time?
“That’s hard. I’m not sure, honestly,” said Watson on Wednesday. “Everyone of course gets geared up. It’s the only game on and like you said, it’s primetime, the lights are shining so you’ve got to be a little extra focused. As a quarterback and especially in this league, to be successful and to be good you have to be focused every week. So, I don’t know. I just go out there and play ball, really. That’s all I can really say about that.”
As well as a 6-2 record, Watson has passed for 2,010 yards, 21 touchdowns and three interceptions on a 68.4% completion rate under the bright lights, good for a 121.1 passer rating. He also has three rushing touchdowns and 271 rushing yards.
The extra hours of preparation help the third-year quarterback.
“I like playing at night, if it’s home, for sure. I like playing at home and playing at night time,” said Watson. “Like you said, it’s a little extra rest and preparation and going in through the day and kind of getting your mind right instead of waking up really, really early and going straight to the stadium.”
On Sunday, Watson will not play on prime time; his two-week stretch of doing so will end with the 4-8 Denver Broncos come into town. Outside of prime time, he is 16-11.
