Despite a penalty that infuriated most, Clowney had a good day
Pro Football Focus: Watson, line struggle while Clowney shines
Dec 12, 2018, 7:05 am
Deshaun Watson had an up and down day. Tim Warner/Getty Images
Pro Football Focus grades each individual player's performance and assigns them a grade. All 32 teams use Pro Football Focus.
Each week we will take a look at some of the key grades as well as some from the Texans upcoming opponent. They also do great fantasy analysis and draft coverage as well. Stats are for the previous game unless otherwise noted. You can join Pro Football Focus here.
Jadeveon Clowney - 77.6 Defense Grade
Clowney had one of his strongest graded games although the box score isn't going to be lit up by this. It was nearly a top grade in almost every category highlighted by an 87.0 run defense grade. He is absolutely a terror in slowing down rushing attacks. He had plenty of near misses that likely ended up as a positive play but could have been much more. If he hits on half those plays the Colts likely lose to the Texans.
Senio Kelemete - 60.0 Pass Blocking Grade
He allowed a sack, two hurries, and three pressures as the Colts were a terror to Deshaun Watson all day. It is the first time in a long time he dipped below average in the category. The plan and execution of the Colts definitely played a role in his dip. He has to play better as he is the entrenched starter there.
Deshaun Watson - 58.7 Offense Grade
His worst grade in a while. He was charged with creating quite a bit of the pressure on himself and PFF credited him with two of the sacks. He has to get rid of the ball faster and trust his reads. Watson, who usually has some success against blitzes, was terrible against pressure in the Colts game. He has to make a few more plays when the pressure is there and it won't go away. The Texans have an offensive line that is suddenly struggling again.
Sam Darnold 75.7 - Passing Grade
The rookie had it going in his return from injury. He wasn't asked to do a ton but played an efficient game against a nice Buffalo defense. He hit a huge portion of his yards deep down the right side showing he isn't afraid to take chances. The team kept him upright too. Darnold might have a decent game if the Texans secondary doesn't respect what he is capable of accomplishing.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.