Deshaun Watson is the new Dak Prescott, except better
By Josh Hill
Deshaun Watson is the franchise in Houston and has ascended to respectable heights no one expected him to reach this soon.
Three times in eight weeks I’ve been compelled to write about how amazingly well Deshaun Watson played. Despite missing the first start of the season (because supposed quarterback whisperer Bill O’Brien thought Tom Savage was the better option), Watson has already carved out a serious and convincing case for Rookie of the Year.
Beyond that accolades that await, Watson looks every bit the type of franchise quarterback Houston has been habitually unable to find. Say what you will about Matt Schaub, but he was never going to be the face of the franchise, let alone do it potentially for two decades. It’s only the sixth start of Watson’s career, and any take regarding him playing for the next 20 years at a high level runs the risk of sounding facetious. But so far Watson has displayed all the qualities and more that made us fall in love with Dak Prescott a year ago, so there’s no reason to believe this isn’t the start of something great.
Watson seems to be doing everything [Prescott] did expect he’s doing it with a confidence that doesn’t make you question whether this is a one-year wonder
The comparison is uncanny. Both Dak and Watson managed to arrive way ahead of schedule in completely unexpected ways. Both overachieved in their rookie campaigns to make the teams they played for better than advertised. Not to take anything away from Dak, but Watson seems to be doing everything the Cowboys starter did expect he’s doing it with a confidence that doesn’t make you question whether this is a one-year wonder. Dak ended his rookie year with many wondering if he could repeat the success. With Watson, it feels like we’re witnessing the natural progression of a superstar talent — no questions asked.
Sunday saw the Cowboys and Texans play opposite each other in late games, and it was Watson who stole the spotlight away from Dak.
Look at Watson’s body of work through six games. He went on the road and almost beat New England, if not for a blown timeout by his head coach. Watson threw five touchdowns and zero interceptions in a nationally televised game against Kansas City. That performance came a week after he helped drop 57-points on Tennessee. In Week 8 Watson went on the road to the loudest stadium in football and ran wild against the Legion of Boom. So far this season Watson has completed more than half his passes in every game and has thrown for multiple touchdowns in all but one start. Simply put, he makes the Texans a better football team in a way no quarterback ever has before.
The only other rookie having this kind of year is Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, who is merely a supplementary piece of the offense (albeit a major one). Where Hunt is great for a big play when called upon, Watson is responsible for running the entirety of Houston’s offense. Hunt can come out of the game for a play or two, the same cannot be said for Watson.
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If nothing else, this sudden and meteoric ascension for Watson is something all football fans can appreciate. The expectation is that your favorite team will find a franchise quarterback, which is easier said than done. That’s why it’s so exciting for football when another star is born. Watson might not yet be the flag bearer of the next generation of quarterbacks, but he’s already at the front of the pack and way ahead of the curve.