"It was worth all the shi**y tough days" said Watt after the game
Watt's return helps spark Texans in comeback, OT win
Jan 4, 2020, 7:14 pm
"It was worth all the shi**y tough days" said Watt after the game
Texans Defensive End J.J. Watt
He's back! J.J. Watt made his return to the field in their playoff game against the Bills. This is how he fared gainst Buffalo.
J.J. Watt needs to dust the rust off, got tossed by Cody Ford on the play. pic.twitter.com/le5rf64lOK
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 4, 2020
Watt was used as a situational defensive lineman throughout the game. The team would sub him in on clear passing downs, though he was in during some Bills rushing plays as well. As you can see from the play above, Watt had a welcome back moment or two from the Bills offensive line.
The first half was fairly quiet for Watt. He drew an occasional double team but he didn't show up with an actual stat on the stat sheet.
JJ WATT IS SO BACK 🔥 @JJWatt pic.twitter.com/MvLvvBcbz7
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 4, 2020
The Texans had just fumbled. The offense looked dead. The Bills had a chance to make it a near insurmountable lead. Watt flashed on third down for his first recorded statistic of the day to force the Bills to take a field goal.
It was a vintage Watt sack. He was too fast for the lineman and rumbled past him to crush Allen. The Bills signal caller would be antsy in the pocket for a couple of series after this.
Bill O'Brien said after the game Watt's sack got the crowd back into the game. He also said Houston fans are great because they are "going to let you know when you're not playing well, and they're going to let you know when you are playing well."
TJ Watt is HYPE for big bro 🙌🙌 @_TJWatt @JJWatt pic.twitter.com/kXAeISMExy
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) January 4, 2020
J.J. Watt's brother T.J. Watt was in attendance. The younger Watt is a defensive player of the year candidate.
Forced incompletion by Watt. pic.twitter.com/t43q1MMJly
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) January 5, 2020
Watt would get into a groove later in the game forcing Allen to toss the ball away. He drew closer to his regular level of attention from the Bills offense as the second half went on.
J.J. Watt: "There were a lot of people who were questioning it or calling me crazy or telling me that I shouldn't be doing what I'm doing. But nobody knows what those feelings feel like ... so, quite frankly, I don't really care what anybody else says. I did it for those moments. pic.twitter.com/J4TzMReCTC
— Rivers McCown (@riversmccown) January 5, 2020
Watt made it clear after the game he came back to play with his teammates and he missed that feeling.
"We threw the plan out the window there in the fourth quarter and overtime," Watt said. He thanked the training and rehab staff for having him ready. He said he dove for a tackle and knew that moment he would know if his torn pectoral was going to remain healthy in the game.
Watt joked after the game he and the doctor hugged and neither knows how he held up for the game.
JJ Watt on what the plan was for him entering the game and how it went out the window in crunch time. #Texans @espn975 pic.twitter.com/TaF0djMb1s
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) January 5, 2020
Watt said the plan was for him to be situational for pass rushing but they plan was done when the fourth quarter got there. He said he didn't rehab to be on the sidelines in crunch time. Watt did say sometimes it was tough to stay on the sidelines through the first three quarters but he stuck to the plan.
Houston Astros (52-47, first in the AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (39-62, fifth in the AL West)
Oakland, California; Monday, 9:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (4-7, 5.63 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 93 strikeouts); Athletics: Hogan Harris (1-3, 3.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 35 strikeouts)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Astros -148, Athletics +124; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros play the Oakland Athletics after Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle against the Mariners on Sunday.
Oakland has a 24-26 record at home and a 39-62 record overall. The Athletics have gone 21-42 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.
Houston is 24-26 in road games and 52-47 overall. The Astros are 7-17 in games decided by one run.
The teams meet Monday for the eighth time this season. The Astros lead the season series 6-1.
TOP PERFORMERS: Brent Rooker has 19 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 67 RBI for the Athletics. Lawrence Butler is 16-for-37 with three doubles, a triple, five home runs and 18 RBI over the past 10 games.
Alvarez leads Houston with 20 home runs while slugging .545. Jake Meyers is 7-for-37 with three home runs and six RBI over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 5-5, .281 batting average, 5.48 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
Astros: 6-4, .228 batting average, 2.63 ERA, outscored opponents by 14 runs
INJURIES: Athletics: Jacob Wilson: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Luis Medina: 15-Day IL (elbow), Tyler Soderstrom: 10-Day IL (undisclosed), Dany Jimenez: 15-Day IL (oblique), Alex Wood: 60-Day IL (rotator cuff), Paul Blackburn: 60-Day IL (foot), Ross Stripling: 15-Day IL (elbow), Esteury Ruiz: 10-Day IL (wrist), Darell Hernaiz: 60-Day IL (ankle), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Gott: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Astros: Victor Caratini: 10-Day IL (hip), Justin Verlander: 15-Day IL (neck), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Tucker: 10-Day IL (shin), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (forearm), Oliver Ortega: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bennett Sousa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Penn Murfee: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Lance McCullers Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kendall Graveman: 60-Day IL (elbow)