Colts 26, Texans 20
Q. Deshaun, could you take us through the last play, what your plan was when you were walking up to the line of scrimmage? And then describe what happened.
DESHAUN WATSON: It was a zone read play. We were going back and forth if we were going to pass it or not. We didn't want to leave too much time for the Colts' offense, so we were trying to at least run it. If we run it in then we run it in, but if not the clock is going to continue to run. And the back was on my right. Yeah, I mean, I should have just caught the ball.
I know it was a little low and hot, but for me, I take big pride in just catching every snap, regardless where it is and how fast it is. Yeah, and that was just it, just really just trying to hand it off to David. I think that was David that was in. I was going to read it in, but they were all gunning for me, so it would have been probably a positive play hopefully, and yeah.
Q. When you were on the bench afterward, you sat there for a while. What was going through your mind?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, the shit hurts. I'm tired of losing. Being so close over the years is just -- yeah, I mean, it's just tough. It's tough.
Q. On the safety, what did you see from their pressure package with the stunt that they were doing, and can you take us through that play?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, honestly, I wasn't even really looking -- I know they brought a star, and we had it picked up. I miked it the right way so we could get out and the running back could get the star. I think he did, I just think they kind of picked stunt, the guard and the tackle. We were trying to get behind them. They were sinking. So when I stepped up, the guy came free and I didn't have enough time to see where Akins was because everything else was deeper routes and we had an under by a tight end, so I was really just trying to step up and give it to him, but I lost him and I didn't want to throw blind, especially down that low. The running back was in protection, so I really couldn't throw it anywhere but in that direction, and like I said, I didn't want to throw it blind for a pick and I just didn't want to throw it into the dirt because I was inside the pocket for intentional grounding, so that would have been a safety anyway, so I just held on to it and took that.
Q. Keke Coutee and Chad Hansen, your thoughts on their contributions and increased roles, especially Chad coming off practice squad and catching that many balls?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, it's huge. I trust Chad. I trust Keke. Both those guys, seeing with Cooks and Cobb and Fuller, everywhere I went this summer, Chad was there, Keke was there, Stevie was there. All those guys were with us. When I went to Arizona in the 100-degree heat, Chad was there, first one that Keke -- same with the other four receivers. When I went to Georgia, when I went to Miami, went to California, everywhere I went, Chad was always there.
I'm very confident in him and what he can do for us to help us out, and he showed it today. He's going to make big-time catches, and he's going to be ready and prepared, and that's what he was. The same way with Keke. It was big for Keke to get what he got and just continue to grow each and every week.
Q. You just mentioned obviously having somewhat of a rapport with both those guys already, but after Will went down this week, what did you do as a quarterback, the leader of the offense to instill more confidence in those guys and show them you were going to be going to them today?
DESHAUN WATSON: Just talked to them. I mean, that's the biggest thing for me as a confidence guy, they already know whenever they step on the field, regardless if it's practice or it's a game, I'm going to treat you like a starter. I'm not trying to target just one person. Whoever is open, I'm going through my reads, being that quarterback, and I'm going to give you an opportunity to make a play.
For me, I expect you to make that play, just like they expect me to make every throw and every play. That's the standard. Those guys, they were up for the challenge and ready for that standard. That's why they had big games.
Q. You guys have played some of the NFL's best teams really close this year, to where it's come down to one play, one series, Steelers, Colts, Titans. Was it the toughest loss of the season in some ways because you're down key players, you fight back, you're to the 2-yard line and just one unfortunate snap kind of takes it away?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, all of them are tough. When you can get to a point where you're not -- as a player over my career, even in little league, you haven't lost this many games, it's tough to handle. You try to hold so much weight on your shoulders where it just becomes a breaking point. Like I always preach, my standard is trying to be legendary, and I'm working towards it. Even regardless. Like I said before, it's not only on Nick, I should have caught the ball. That's because I hold myself up to that legendary standard, so I should have made that catch on that snap.
I just felt like I'm just disappointed for the whole city, I mean, honestly. That's how I take it. Everyone might think differently, but I just took it that way. That's why I was sitting on the bench and that was -- because we were so close, and with being so close these last four years since I've been here, where we just can't for some reason haven't got over that stepping stool. But one day we will for sure. I promise you that.
Q. I don't think we've ever seen you this upset. Where do you go from here, and who do you lean on when you're having a tough time like this and going through things that you haven't ever had to deal with before?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, my teammates, family, my business team. People that's real, real close to me that understands the way I kind of operate as a person about my career, about life in general. The standard is still going to stay the same. Of course I might be down now, but 24-hour rule. When I wake up in the morning, you know, it's on to the Chicago Bears. Right now just of course just regardless of good or bad, soak everything in, learn from it, take it, add it and charge it to the game and just keep pushing forward.
Q. I was going to ask you when you're in the thick of a play like this that decides the game, I know you've already taken accountability for it and the snap and everything, but how long does it take to get over something like that and maybe look at some of the positives and the things you did well and some of the things that you can build on?
DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, that's the biggest thing, you hit it right on the head, just watching the film and taking the positives out of it. Of course there's going to be some negatives that happened and that last play of course is a big negative, but you can't dwell on it. You've just got to get ready for the next week. Like I said, once I get home and relax with the fam, watch the tape, and then when I wake up in the morning, it's on to the next game, and then that's in the past and we'll see Indy in two weeks, but we've got to get ready for Chicago first and go on the road and try to get a victory there.
Q. How would you assess the way that you and the offense as a whole dealt with this defense? I know I would imagine you guys might have sensed some more pressure especially with Will being out. How would you assess the way you dealt overall despite the last play?
DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, we handled it well. Overall we could have played a little bit better and handled some different things, all of us, not just a certain part of the offense. Coaching staff to players, all of us, quarterback, we could have, of course, made some more plays. That's the beauty of it. That's the positivity of the things that we did against one of the best if not I guess No. 1 total defense maybe. I know they were last week when they played Green Bay or Tennessee or something like that, but that's a really, really good defense, disciplined defense that's loaded. We've got to take in a positive and keep pushing forward with it.
Q. On the interception, did you get a chance to see a replay of it, and what is your perspective on what happened on the play where Brandin and him were wrestling for the football?
DESHAUN WATSON: What we saw was that he hit the ground, he had control and he hit the ground, and that's when the guy pulled it out. They went with I guess on the field with the refs, that call, but I don't know, that's a bang-bang, and of course with that it's hard to overturn when they go with Indy on the interception. The way it looked like on the film and on the replay that he caught it, secured it, hit the ground, and that's when the guy was pulling it out. Yeah, it is what it is, I guess.
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