Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt are back … and Texans too | Bleacher's report

Eric Christian Smith / Associated Press

It was not long ago, the Houston Texans were dead in the water – a 0-3 team in the early 4-12 season that had just lost at home against a bad New York team Giants.

The Texans were finished. Through. Finished.

Now, having defeated the Miami Dolphins 42-23 on Thursday night, the Texans are one of the most popular teams in the National Football League. A team with an explosive offense and a punishing defense. Winners of five consecutive wins, the Texans are alone in first place in the AFC South division and look like the division's class.

It's amazing how much things can change in just over a month.

And what difference can it make for Houston to find its two biggest stars in top form.

As for the defense, there is no doubt about the leader – Justin James Watt.

The defensive triple player of the year has experienced seasons marked by injuries over the past two years. But in 2018, Watt is in good health again and has its usual ravages. The 29-year-old, 29, was fourth in the NFL, tied with seven sacks, and it did not take long for Watt to tie for the NFL in eighth place.

It's a lesser blocker to which we can commit Jadeveon Clowney or Whitney Mercilus. A safety valve of less than the passing game while a beleaguered quarterback escaped to save his life. Watt disrupts faults even when he's not in the game – just by being J.J. Watt.

Watt – with all due respect to Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald – is the most dominant defensive player of his generation.

Tim Warner / Getty Images

During his address at the NFL Network's post-game show, Watt said that those seasons marked by injuries had helped him navigate through the stormy start of this season for Houston.

"You start 0-3," said Watt, and the whole world is falling. But inside, we knew what we had. We knew the guys we had. The thing is, a lot of guys, like me, have experienced such hardships as injuries. So we know what it means to be below and we know how to get out of it. "

Even though Watt was Thursday, he may not be the most important Texan player, just as he was not the biggest star against the Dolphins.

For the first time since her assault in the NFL last year before suffering an ACL tear at the end of the season, Deshaun Watson looked like – Deshaun Watson. He was a key player with his legs, playing one after the other.

As a quarterback who can extend a game with his legs before finding an open man in the end zone – on the fourth, no less?

Again, not a problem.

For the match, Watson completed 16 of 20 passes for 239 yards and five touchdowns and scored 156.0 for the passers, which is less than three points to be perfect.

This is true. He had fewer failures than touchdowns.

In news that should terrify all the defenses of the southern division of the AFC, Watson told Erin Andrews of Fox Sports, after the game, that the Texans offensive was just beginning.

"I do not even know how explosive we can be," Watson said. "Excellent, we just have to keep working, and today we have shown a little bit, but we will only continue to improve and improve each week."

Tim Warner / Getty Images

The cry you just heard comes from the Jacksonville Jaguars – and they are in London.

Watson has received contributions from almost everyone at the Houston offensive. tailgating Lamar Miller He rushed for 133 yards on 18 carries – his second consecutive 100-yard effort. Wide receiver Will Fuller V caught five balls for 124 yards and that long touchdown. Jordan Thomas found the goal zone twice.

Oh, and DeAndre Hopkins (a full-fledged superstar) scored two touchdowns and made the best shot that did not count in NFL history.

The (doubtful) flag on this game should have been raised on a general principle.

Most importantly, a beleaguered Houston offensive line that allowed 26 sacks and a staggering 70 QB, although his first seven games resulted in zero sacks and one shot. It was more than difficult for a young quarterback who could not get to Jacksonville in week 7 because he was so beaten.

The Houston offense averaged 5.4 yards per game on Thursday and nearly 12 yards per pass. That's what you call explosive. The defense lost 23 points and 370 yards, but both touchdowns were marked by a free kick and a play-in-hand. Miami has only converted four of its thirteenths in the match.

The Texans keep getting better and better, and during the eighth week, they looked like a team capable of beating anyone in the AFC – including the Patriots and Chiefs – and hanging out with one of the great players of the NFC.

Eric Christian Smith / Associated Press

This was not a good news Thursday. Clowney and Fuller (who have a long history of injuries) were injured in the fourth quarter and did not return. Former doctor of the NFL team David Chao speculated that Fuller tore his ACL.

Losing one or the other (or both) for an extended period of time would be a hard blow.

But as long as Watson is in good health and fighting in the offensive background, Texans can score every goal, not to mention every practice. As long as Watt is healthy and unleashes himself in opposing offensive backgrounds, Texans have something that few teams can boast about: a destructive crew that can take over.

Despite their four straight wins at the start of the eighth week, many people (including myself, of course) wondered if Houston was a reality. If this team were to be taken seriously as a contender capable of a long run in the playoffs.

This question has been answered by the dolphins – categorically.