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- J.J. Watt had three tackles and two sacks during a Week 13 win over the Titans.
- Watt also added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
- He also recorded his fifth touchdown of the season during the game.
Houston Texans defensive end and potential MVP candidate J.J. Watt did a little bit of everything in his team’s 45-21 Week 13 win over the visiting Tennessee Titans on Dec. 1. During that game, Watt registered three tackles, two sacks for loss, six quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and even a touchdown as a tight end.
J.J. Watt did a little bit of everything during the Houston Texans’ 45-21 Week 13 win over the visiting Tennessee Titans.
According to Deepi Sidhu of the Texans’ official website, Watt had three tackles, two sacks for loss, six quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and even a touchdown as a tight end. The MVP chant for Watt grew louder as the game wore on. It reached its peak during Watt’s 14-yard return off a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. He was unable to haul it in for a touchdown but made up for it just 47 seconds later after he caught one of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s six touchdown passes to put the Texans up by 31 at 45-14.
Watt chimed in on his all-around performance after the game, per Sidhu:
“It’s a blast. It’s fun to win in this building, it’s fun to win for these fans. I love this city.
“It’s what you dream about. Moments like today, games like today, where everybody’s flying around, making plays, having fun. I came in this morning and sometimes you have one of those moments where you just look around for a second. You do remember that you play in the National Football League that you worked so hard to get here for your whole life and how many people wished they could be in your shoes. I’m very fortunate to be where I’m at.”
Teammates think J.J. Watt more of an MVP than Aaron Rodgers: http://t.co/Fg4we6DJe6 pic.twitter.com/MNUSAv0hW8— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) December 1, 2014
In a separate update by Sidhu, Watt says he appreciates the fans acknowledging his efforts on the field:
“I appreciate it. The thing that I’ve always said about these awards and the thing that I’ll continue to say is that people can vote how they want. They get to have their own opinions. I can’t control anybody’s opinion. All I can do is go out there and play as hard as I can play, make as many plays as I can make, and try to help my team win football games and if people feel like I should be in consideration for an award, then feel free to vote for me.”
He ought to expect more than a handful of votes as he’s continued to build his case for the MVP plum this season.
The last time a defensive lineman scored five touchdowns in a season was in 1944, per ESPN Houston Texans writer Tania Ganguli. The Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN) notes a 66-year period since a player at any position scored at least three offensive touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns in the sames season. Ganguli also adds no one has ever registered thre offensive touchdowns, a pick-six and a fumble recovery returned for a touchdowns in the same season.
That was until J.J. Watt came into the fray.
However, Ganguli feels Watt /4/lag behind in the MVP voting as his Texans are just 6-6 entering Week 14. Other contenders such as the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (9-3), the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady (9-3), the Dallas Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray (8-4) and the Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning (9-3) have at least eight wins apiece.
The 25-year-old Watt has amassed 271 tackles, 48.0 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries and one interception, per ESPN stats.
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