Deshaun Watson, the former Clemson star, found his team in a dogfight with Tom Brady's New England Patriots on Sunday.
Watson and Houston would push New England to the brink, but he didn't do it alone, as a couple of former rivals in Bruce Ellington and Jadeveon Clowney helped keep Houston in the game.
For the day, Deshaun Watson was 22-33, 301 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions. Watson's 301 yards passing are the most ever by a former Clemson quarterback in an NFL game.
Watson's first touchdown touchdown toss off the day came with 1:51 left in the first quarter when he hit Ellington, giving the Texans a 10-7 lead.
@HoustonTexans QB Deshaun Watson has a chance to be one of the greats before it's all said and done. #Texans #NFL pic.twitter.com/bs2ft0p3pY
— Analyzed Sports (@AnalyzedSports) September 24, 2017
In the second quarter, the Texans trailed 14-13, before Clowney returned this Brady turnover to the house from 22 yards out.
.@clownejd has the 🏈
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2017
And he’s taking it to the HOUSE.
CLOWNEY SPIKE! #Texans pic.twitter.com/JXdHs99rCv
The Texans faced a halftime deficit of 21-20, and New England would open the second half with a score extending their lead to 28-20.
Watson took over the next possession and led the Texans on a 10 play, 70-yard scoring drive, cutting New England's lead back to one, 28-27.
.@deshaunwatson is tossing BEAUTIFUL TDs for the @HoustonTexans! #Texans pic.twitter.com/K0EYSy6rtz
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2017
Houston's defense would give Watson the ball back with a chance to deliver the lead and the former All-American would again navigate a stingy New England defense.
Watson took the Texans on a 12 play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a Ka'imi Fairbairn 31-yard field goal, giving Houston a 30-28 lead.
Up two late, Houston got the chance to extend their lead. Thanks to plays from Watson like the one below, the Texans held a 33-28 lead with 3:31 left in the game.
This @deshaunwatson escape was all sorts of AMAZING.
— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2017
What a play! #Texans pic.twitter.com/EB9tbrNbou
But Tom Brady isn't known as the greatest quarterback of all-time for nothing. Brady took New England on a 75-yard touchdown drive, giving the Patriots a 36-33 lead with just twenty-three seconds left that they wouldn't relinquish.
