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Monday 7 october 2019

Watson throws 5 TDs, 3 to Fuller; Texans top Falcons 53-32

By KRISTIE RIEKEN The Texans regained the
AP Sports Writer lead four plays later when
HOUSTON (AP) — Will Fuller Carlos Hyde scored on a
knew it was up to him to 1-yard run to make it 23-17.
make things happen on The Texans tacked on a
Sunday with Atlanta fo- field goal later in the third
cused on slowing down De- before Fells caught an
Andre Hopkins. 8-yard touchdown pass
Fuller didn’t disappoint, from Watson to extend the
catching three of Deshaun lead to 33-17.
Watson’s five touchdown Watson completed two
passes and finishing with a long throws on that drive,
career-high 217 yards re- finding Fuller for a 32-yard
ceiving to lead the Houston gain before connecting
Texans to a 53-32 win. with Hopkins for 29 yards.
“Playing with Hop, like I al- DeAndre Carter muffed a
ways say, is easy,” Fuller punt on the first play of the
said. fourth quarter and it was re-
“He gets a lot of coverages covered by Atlanta.
thrown his way, and I feel The Falcons cashed in on
like that’s why they brought that mistake when Ryan
me here, to help him out. crashed into the end zone
It took me a while, but I fi- for a 1-yard score with
nally had this big game, Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller, left, is hit by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Isaiah Oliver about 11½ minutes left.
so I’m just trying to help ... after a catch during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Houston. It was first ruled that he fum-
out.” Associated Press bled, but it was reviewed
Watson threw for a career- day. all four years of high school. surrounded Fuller on the and determined that Ryan
high 426 yards and his five “Not a lot of people want Watson shared a moment bench following the third got into the end zone be-
touchdowns tied a person- to go out there and just line with Falcons owner Arthur score and the players fore fumbling to give Atlan-
al best. up a man against me un- Blank on the field before bowed to him and lofted ta the touchdown.
A week after scoring a sea- less they really believe in the game. him in the air as his big day Ryan found Austin Hooper
son-low 10 points in a loss him,” Hopkins said. Blank started the program was announced in the sta- for the 2-point conversion
to Carolina, Watson and “But that’s why we have at the Boys & Girls Clubs of dium and he was shown on to cut the lead to 33-25.
Houston’s offense bounced guys like Will, the tight ends Hall County that allowed the Jumbotron. Fuller got in front of the de-
back on a day he was 28 and the running backs to Watson the opportunity to Watson, who was criticized fense and grabbed a 33-
of 33 and became the first step up when there are two work for the Falcons as a for failing to complete yard touchdown pass in
player to top 400 yards or three guys on me.” teenager. any deep passes against the second, but the kicked
passing against the Falcons Fuller’s 14 receptions and Atlanta cut the lead to the Panthers, had no such failed to leave the Texans
since Week 16 of 2012. three TD catches are tied eight points with about 11½ trouble on Sunday when he up 13-10.
It was the second-most with Andre Johnson for the minutes to go before Wat- completed multiple passes The Texans pushed the
points in franchise history most in a game in franchise son’s second TD pass to for 25 yards or more. lead to 16-10 with a field
behind the 57 they scored history. Fells pushed the lead to 40- His favorite target was Full- goal later in the second
in a win over the Titans in Darren Fells had two touch- 25 about five minutes later. er, who more than doubled before Ryan orchestrated
2017. down grabs for the Texans The Falcons cut the lead his output from the first four a 12-play, 82-yard drive
Watson is the first player in (3-2) and Carlos Hyde add- to one score again with games combined on Sun- capped by a 9-yard pass
NFL to throw for at least 400 ed a rushing TD. 3½ minutes left when Ryan day after entering the day to Devonta Freeman to
yards and five touchdowns Houston’s beleaguered of- threw a 29-yard pass to with 183 yards receiving. leave the Falcons up 17-16
with five incompletions or fensive line didn’t allow a Calvin Ridley to get them Falcons coach Dan Quinn at halftime.
fewer in a game in NFL his- sack on Sunday after giving within 40-32. said there was “no excuse” THEY SAID IT
tory. up 18 through the first four But Watson and Fuller struck for his team’s poor perfor- Ryan on the loss: “That was
“Will did a heck of a job games. again, with Fuller grabbing mance on Sunday. a tough one. To sit here 1-4
and ... DeAndre, he did a Matt Ryan had 330 yards a 44-yard touchdown re- “Those explosive plays just after five games is difficult.
heck of a job of allowing passing with three touch- ception to make it 47-32 can’t be a part of it,” he It’s not what we wanted,
Will to get open with dou- downs and one intercep- with about two minutes re- said. “That was one of the but we’re going to be the
ble coverage and setting tion for the Falcons (1-4), maining. catalysts that gave them ones to have to dig our-
the routes up for him,” Wat- who lost their third straight The Texans added another the energy in the third selves out of it.”
son said. game. score when Tashaun Gip- quarter.” UP NEXT
Hopkins, who had 88 yards It was Watson’s first meet- son returned an intercep- Houston got things going in Falcons: Visit Arizona next
receiving on Sunday, was ing with the Falcons after tion 79 yards for a touch- the second half when Wat- Sunday.
proud that the attention on the Georgia native worked down in the final minute. son hit Keke Coutee on a Texans: Visit Chiefs next
him helped Fuller to his big as a ball boy for the team The rest of the offense 51-yard catch-and-run. Sunday.q