J.J. Watt doesn’t want to make excuses, but …
The Houston Texans defensive end had a relatively quiet night Sunday, at least by his normally lofty standards. He had just a couple of tackles and wasn’t able to register a sack as the Patriots neutralized the reigning defensive MVP.
Of course, the Patriots did have some help. Watt was playing with a heavy cast on his left hand, which he broke in practice last week. Watt wasn’t able to clutch and grab like he usually can, and it’s no doubt that made some sort of a difference Sunday night.
“It’s not terrible,” Watt told reporters after the game, per the Houston Chronicle. “I wish I had a hand, but I don’t. You make do with what you got.”
The pain also was something of an issue, Watt said.
“It poses some problems, but it wasn’t that bad,” he added. “There were times where it was painful, but that’s football. People play with pain all the time.”
The Patriots also deserve credit for developing and executing a gameplan designed to neutralize the defensive end. Watt faced a double team just about all game as the Patriots made slowing Watt a focal point of their strategy.
“They had a good game plan,” Watt explained, per the Houston Chronicle. “They did a lot of different things. They executed very well. They’re a good team. They weren’t going to leave me one-on-one. They didn’t. That’s just the way it goes. That’s become the norm for me.”
Thumbnail photo via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
