Texans will almost completely rely on Deshaun Watson to win
The Houston Texans are in trouble, and only Deshaun Watson can save them.
Watson is entering his fourth season at the helm, and this will be his most challenging year to date. Losing in the Divisional to the Kansas City Chiefs in a game which the Texans led 24-0, one would imagine that moment as the low point of the 2020 calendar for them.
Incredibly, that was only the beginning. In the subsequent months, Houston traded off three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins for aging (and expensive) running back David Johnson, along with a second-round pick.
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The Texans then dealt a second-rounder to the Los Angeles Rams for the oft-injured receiver Brandin Cooks, before signing Randall Cobb to a three-year, $27 million deal in free agency. In the same week, head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien allowed star nose tackle D.J. Reader to walk for more money with the Cincinnati Bengals.
All told, Houston will play with Watson, Johnson, Cooks, Cobb and Fuller alongside tight end Darren Fells for most of its offensive snaps when everyone is healthy (and that’s a massive if considering the histories of Fuller and Cooks). It’s an underwhelming group — especially with a poor offensive line in front — which can only be saved by the brilliance of Watson.
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Unfortunately, Watson doesn’t get much help from the defense either. The Texans are now without Reader and added nobody of note to one of the league’s worst groups a year ago. In 2019, Houston ranked dead last in red zone defense and 28th in total yards allowed. Outside of J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus in the front seven, it’s a group of middling talents and worse.
Watson will need to have the best year of an already fantastic career to bring Houston another AFC South title. Last year, the former Clemson star and national champion threw for 3,852 yards and 26 touchdowns in his second consecutive Pro Bowl campaign. Those numbers won’t be enough in all likelihood, especially considering the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts both gained significantly this offseason.
If DeShaun Watson drags what is left of the Texans to the postseason, he’ll probably be looking at serious MVP consideration.
