HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- After forcing the Texans to punt on four of their first five possessions, the Raiders defense couldn't get off the field in the second half and for Jon Gruden, the reason is simple.
"The quarterback. We couldn't catch him."
Deshaun Watson and the Texans offense possessed the ball for 20:47 in the second half, running 41 offensive plays to the Raiders 20. The Texans kicked a field goal on their first drive after halftime, which was aided when Watson ran for nine yards on a fourth and one. He then threw touchdowns on the Texans next two possessions, which included a nine-yard pass to Darren Fells after he avoided the Raiders pass rush and was kicked in the face. Watson completed a pass to Fells which allowed the Texans to run out the clock.
"He made a lot of plays," Gruden said of Watson. "Fourth and one, coming out of the locker room to start the third quarter. They go for it on their own 30-yard line, and he runs for it there. A couple of scramble completions. You just have to tip your hat to Watson, he was awesome today. Doggone Watson"
Watson finished the day 27-of-39 for 279 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception, while rushing for 42 yards on 10 carries.
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"We're not the first team he's gotten," Gruden said. "This guy's a specatcular player. He wills it out of his team, and he makes something out of nothing, and he did it a lot again today, and it's a credit to him."
Watson's third touchdown pass, the nine-yarder to Fells, turned out to be the play the game. It gave the Texans their first lead of the day, and he broke three tackles in the process. When asked about that play, the Raiders coach put Watson in an elite class.
"You see Michael Jordan, you see some great athletes in every sport, you've got to tip your cap to that guy. We had him three times, and then he makes an unbelievable throw, and (Fells) makes a great catch. It's a lot of unscripted offense that they're really good at, and it makes it no excuse for us losing the football game."
