A Salute To Deshaun Watson’s 2020 Season
We need to talk about Deshaun Watson. I’m making you. Because everyone’s moved on to talk about the postseason, and that conversation definitely won’t include the Houston Texans, who just finished this NFL season with a 4-12 record.
The 2020 season was a laughable performance from the entire organization, which eventually lead to J.J. Watt going dad mode after the team’s week 16 loss, yet Deshaun was able to shine like the glorious, divine, awe-inspiring star he is.
Overall, the Texans gave up 464 points during the regular season, 6th worst in the league, while surrendering a total of 6,668 yards, good for 3rd worst in the league. They gave up the most rushing yards in the league at 2,564.
After an 0-4 start to the season, the organization fired head coach Bill O’Brien. During the offseason, O’Brien traded away star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for declining and extremely expensive running back David Johnson, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick — a deal that continues to make people laugh. Hopkins went on to record 115 catches for 1,407 yards in the 2020 season, both numbers ranking top three in the NFL.
In week 11, the Texans lost slot wideout Randall Cobb for what would be a season-ending injury. Then ahead of week 13 they lost top wideout Will Fuller due to a PED suspension. Later they’d be without the services of No. 2 wideout Brandin Cooks for a short period, along with aforementioned starting running back David Johnson.
The depletions (along with simply already sucking) were a big reason the Texans lost the final five games of the season, despite Watson throwing for at least 324 yards in all but one of those games. Overall, this season must have felt like a kick in the nuts for Watson, quite literally. He got drilled in the boys back in the team’s week 14 blowout loss to the Bears…
my man doesn’t deserve this
Despite all of this, Deshaun Watson racked up 4,823 passing yards during the regular season, best in the league, averaging 8.9 yards per attempt, also best in the league. He threw 33 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, while rushing in 3 more scores.
And this wasn’t just garbage time, stat-sheet packing action that you can chalk up to the team’s putrid defense. Watson posted a grade of 92.5 on the season according to Pro Football Focus, third-best among quarterbacks and the highest of his career.
Anecdotally speaking, I watched a lot of Watson this year, due to the fact that he was our quarterback for the FantasyUnleashd FFPC Main Event team, and he was absolutely amazing, carrying us to the championship game. For goodness sake, by week 12 he was throwing to some dude named Chad Hansen. Every week you could turn on the Texans and expect to see Watson firing absolute lasers up and down the field, doing everything in his power to keep his diminished team in games.
It was a goddamn pleasure watching him this season.
The Beaver was so moved by Watson’s, AKA “Superman’s,” performance this year that he’s named Watson his new favorite player.
LET IT BE KNOWN!
I don’t know what it means that he’s Beaver’s “brand now” but regardless, you get the idea.
So here’s to you, Deshaun. I know you would trade any stats from this season for a team that wasn’t half dead, but it was still remarkable to watch you work this season. I hope your organization is able to get you the supporting cast you deserve. 1000% SPECIAL, through and through!
