The Houston Texans' turnover drought is final over after four games without a single takeaway. In Sunday's 30-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Texans scored 14 points after a pair of fumble recoveries late in the second half.
Interim head coach Romeo Crennel said the team dedicated extra time to forcing takeaways after the second or third week of the season.
"We started saying, 'let's do it in practice,'" Crennel said. "Even if you can't touch them in practice, go ahead and make the move to punch the ball out or make the move to intercept the ball. So, with that emphasis on it, guys were trying to do it in practice and it just paid off on Sunday. Sometimes the ball does bounce your way and it bounced our way because Whitney (Mercilus) was able to recover that one fumble and then when he got hit from behind the ball came out, but then we were still there on it and able to get that ball. Our ability to talk about it and then our ability to come up with plays showed up."
J.J. Watt came up big with a fumble recovery that not only stopped the Jaguars in the red zone, but also led to an offensive touchdown and a two-score lead for Houston. With 3:21 left in the third quarter, James Robinson fumbled a direct snap on fourth-and-1 in the red zone. Watt, who finished with two total tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed, recovered the ball at the Houston 10-yard line. Deshaun Watson then led an eight-play, 90-yard scoring drive that ended in a 19-yard touchdown pass to Will Fuller V.
"Yeah, it was great," Watt said. "Guys were flying all over the place, making plays, and any time we're doing that, once you finally get takeaways like we did today, it's always going to be more fun. It was a great day, and we've got to carry it forward and continue to get better."
Jacob Martin's strip sack on Gardner Minshew resulted in Houston's second takeaway of the game and the season just two drives later. Whitney Mercilus and Tyrell Adams both recovered and the Texans took over at the Jackonville 34-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Watson found Brandin Cooks for a 28-yard score.
Heading into Week 6, the Texans are a minus-five turnover differential after their first two takeaways of 2020. Cornerback Bradley Roby hopes the turnovers come in bunches and to get his hands on a few interceptions too.
"That was a big focus this week is that we wanted to get our first takeaways and we got two today," Roby said Sunday. "No interceptions yet and that's killing me specifically, but they'll come. They'll come. I'm just happy we got the win, and we've got to keep forcing those turnovers in the future."
The Texans will play the Tennessee Titans in Nashville in Week 6. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
"Yeah, it was great," Watt said. "Guys were flying all over the place, making plays, and any time we're doing that, once you finally get takeaways like we did today, it's always going to be more fun. It was a great day, and we've got to carry it forward and continue to get better."
Jacob Martin's strip sack on Gardner Minshew resulted in Houston's second takeaway of the game and the season just two drives later. Whitney Mercilus and Tyrell Adams both recovered and the Texans took over at the Jackonville 34-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Watson found Brandin Cooks for a 28-yard score.
Heading into Week 6, the Texans are a minus-five turnover differential after their first two takeaways of 2020. Cornerback Bradley Roby hopes the turnovers come in bunches and to get his hands on a few interceptions too.
"That was a big focus this week is that we wanted to get our first takeaways and we got two today," Roby said Sunday. "No interceptions yet and that's killing me specifically, but they'll come. They'll come. I'm just happy we got the win, and we've got to keep forcing those turnovers in the future."
The Texans will play the Tennessee Titans in Nashville in Week 6. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday at noon CT on CBS and SportsRadio 610.
