Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson made his NFL debut for the big door by leading the Houston Texans’ home run 9-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals, Week 2 of competition.
Watson ran 49 yards for a touchdown in his first NFL start and led the Texans offense to a late field goal to tie a win, the first they get in the new season after last Sunday they lost in their field before the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-29).
The rookie pin appeared in a black tuxedo for his first NFL title – on his twenty-second birthday – and showed the brilliance that helped bring the Clemson University team to a national title.
Watson avoided the pressure and escaped 49 yards for a 10-3 lead late in the first half, leaving defensive defenders behind.
The Texans (1-1) made the most of a decimated Bengals defense, and let theirs do the rest.
The Bengals (0-2) have been unable to score a touchdown in their first two games to open a campaign for the first time in their 50 seasons.
Watson led a 13-play lead that pitched Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 42-yard field goal with 1:56 to play.
The Bengals took possession twice, but could not cross the midfield.
The Cincinnati team lost to the Ravens 20-0 at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday, the first time in their history to open the bleached campaign at home.
Field marshal, Andy Dalton, threw four interceptions and missed a fumble, without being a winning factor.
The Bengals got only three field goals from kicker Randy Bullock on Thursday. Dalton left his lifelines at 1-6 against the Texans, including a pair of playoff losses.
Watson led an offensive with no three wings closed by concussions, alongside wide receiver Will Fuller V and guard Jeff Allen.
The Texans kept things simple, and Watson avoided the big mistake despite constant pressure from the Bengals, which would have cost their team the loss.
Watson completed 15 of 24 attempts for 125 yards without interceptions. He ran the ball five times for 67 yards with scoring.
The Bengals became the first team to open the season with five scoreless periods since the San Luis Rams in the 2009 season, which ended with a losing record of 1-15.
The team thought it had finally gotten a touchdown when tight end Tyler Eifert caught a Dalton pass on the diagonals during the third period.
The video screens showed the touchdown celebration, but Eiert had left the pitch before the reception, nullifying it. Cincinnati settled for their third field goal of the game, which could not avoid defeat.
