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SPORTS Tuesday 3 december 2019

Watson throws 3 TDs, catches another; Texans top Pats 28-22

By KRISTIE RIEKEN later when Bradley Roby
AP Sports Writer jumped a route and inter-
HOUSTON (AP) — Deshaun cepted Brady. Roby, who
Watson has long admired also had a sack, returned
Tom Brady for his talent and after missing the last five
resilience. games with a hamstring in-
He beat him Sunday night jury.
by not only throwing touch- Houston cashed in on the
down passes, but by catch- miscue when Watson con-
ing one, too. nected with Johnson on a
"I told them I'm an athlete 14-yard TD pass to make it
... the more you can do, 7-3 late in the first quarter.
the longer you play in this It is Watson's fifth game this
league," he said. "So I can season with at least three
do it all." touchdown passes, which
Watson threw three touch- is tied for most in the NFL.
down passes and had the The Texans padded the
first TD reception of his ca- lead when they capped a
reer, and the Houston Tex- 13-play, 88-yard drive with
ans frustrated Brady in a a 13-yard touchdown re-
28-22 victory over the New ception by Darren Fells.
England Patriots. INJURIES
Texans coach and for- Patriots: OL Marcus Can-
mer Patriots assistant Bill non left in the third quarter
O'Brien got his first win in six with an illness. ... C Ted Kar-
tries against New England Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) is lifted by center Nick Martin (66) as they ras injured his knee in the
celebrate a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football
coach Bill Belichick. It was game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Houston. third quarter and didn't re-
Houston's second win over Associated Press turn.
the Patriots and first since Texans: RB Taiwan Jones
Jan. 3, 2010. James White had a 12- al incompletions in the first minutes left in the third left in the third quarter
Watson had 234 yards yard reception for New half. He finished with 326 quarter when the Patriots with a hamstring injury and
passing and threw touch- England's first touchdown yards. went for it on fourth-and-1 didn't return.
down passes of 14, 13, and late in the third quarter, but "Execution," Brady said. and Johnathan Joseph HOPKINS THE QB
35 yards as Houston (8-4) Watson grabbed the first "Just got to do a better job, broke up a pass intended Hopkins had previously at-
built a 21-3 lead against reception of his career on a and it's tough to get behind for Mohamed Sanu. tempted two passes in his
New England's vaunted flip from DeAndre Hopkins and come back. Just put On the next drive, Houston career — an interception
defense. on a trick play with about ourselves in a pretty deep had a touchdown recep- and an incompletion. He
"This is pretty big just be- 10 minutes left to make it hole and you can't do that tion by Will Fuller called was feeling pretty good
cause it's Brady," Watson 28-9. Watson took the snap on the road." back after a review. It about himself after his TD
said. "I was 0-2 against him and handed off to Duke New England dealt with didn't matter much as the toss to Watson and had this
and who knows when he's Johnson, and he gave the a flu bug this week that Texans got a 35-yard TD on to say when asked to rate
going to hang it up. That's ball to Hopkins on a re- swept through the locker a nearly identical route by himself as a QB.
my role model, a guy that's verse to the right. Hopkins room and left two players Kenny Stills on the next play "I would give myself a 10,
been doing it forever, over tossed to Watson on an op- inactive Sunday. to push the lead to 21-3. 11, maybe, because I took
20 years ... so it's pretty awe- tion near the sideline, and Brady connected with New England was able a hit just to get it to him,"
some to finally get one." Watson dived into the end White again with about to sustain a drive for the Hopkins said with a smile.
Brady completed two of his zone for a 6-yard score. four minutes left, but the first time since its open- WATSON IN PRIME TIME
three TD passes in the final The Patriots entered need- 2-point conversion failed to ing possession when White Watson has 21 touchdowns
4 minutes to pull within six. ing a win to be the first AFC leave New England down grabbed his 12-yard TD and just three interceptions
A Patriots (10-2) player got team to clinch a playoff 28-15. The Patriots attempt- from Brady late in the third. in eight night games in his
a hand on Jake Bailey's spot after Oakland's loss to ed an onside kick after that Kai Forbath missed the ex- career.
onside kick attempt with Kansas City earlier in the and Houston recovered tra point to leave the Patri- "He's come up big in impor-
50 seconds remaining, but day. Instead, they strug- but couldn't move the ball ots down 21-9. Forbath was tant games throughout his
the ball bounced out of gled to sustain drives, and and had to punt. signed on Friday to replace life: high school, Clemson,
bounds. Brady often looked upset Brady threw a 20-yard pass Nick Folk, who was released Houston," O'Brien said. "He's
"There's really not a whole on a night he was 24 of to Julian Edelman that cut after having an emergency a great guy to coach. He's
lot to say here," Belich- 47. He threw an intercep- the lead to six with 50 sec- appendectomy. got great poise."
ick said. "The Texans did a tion and was sacked three onds left. But the Patriots The Patriots led 3-0 after a UP NEXT
good job tonight, across times, hit on 12 other occa- couldn't recover a second field goal on their first drive. Patriots: Host Kansas City
the board, in every area. sions and was seen yelling onside kick and Houston The Texans had to punt on next Sunday.
They were just better than at his receivers on the side- ran out the clock. their first possession but got Texans: Host Denver next
we were." line after a drive with sever- There were about seven the ball back three plays Sunday.q