Titans 41, Texans 38
Q. Your thoughts on the game today, the competitiveness you guys had on offense and just the disappointment of losing the game the way you guys did?
DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, it's tough. It's been a lot of games this year where we could have closed out but we didn't. We just didn't go our way. You just go down the line for all the games that came down to the wire that we could have won and had the opportunity to make the playoffs. But I guess it is what it is, and it happens.
You know, I just appreciate everyone that was available for us all the way through week 17 to keep fighting and keep pushing forward, and that's what it's all about is just giving hope and opportunity to try to win. We didn't capitalize on it, but I don't want to sit here and dwell on the bad things. It's all the good things that I want to continue to take into the off-season and build that momentum for the new staff and the new direction we want to go with this organization.
Q. On that thought, you wound up becoming the NFL passing yardage leader for the season, passing Patrick Mahomes. What are your thoughts on your growth as a passer, some of the things you did as a quarterback this year and the numbers you guys put up together?
DESHAUN WATSON: Yeah, it's been real dope. I just give all the credit to really, starting up front, the O-line, but all those skill guys that I had the opportunity to play with this year, each one of them believing in me and for me to make sure that they know that I believe in them, regardless of what it is, through practice, through games, through meetings. If their read comes open and you have an opportunity, I'm going to come your way and I'm going to give you a shot. We play to a standard. That's what I'm all about. It's not about -- whoever is out there is going to play to a standard and that's what I wanted to continue to grow and keep pushing.
But yeah, that was pretty dope to kind of accomplish that. I know Pat didn't play this game and that would have been a little more tighter and things like that, but yeah, it's pretty dope as an individual and as a stat to be able to do the things I did this year for sure.
Q. You touched on the fact that y'all have had a bunch of close losses, eight one-score losses. What were your emotions when their field goal caromed off the upright and went through?
DESHAUN WATSON: I don't know how I was feeling, honestly. I mean, I just turned to some of the guys that were right beside me and just told them I love them and appreciate them for everything that they did this year. I just went over and congratulated Tennessee and some of the players and told them good luck in the playoffs and just kind of walked off the field. I don't know how I was really feeling. It's weird. I've never missed a playoff as a full-time starter in my whole life. Maybe counting my rookie year, I got hurt, then my freshman year in college. But it's a weird feeling to end the season right now. I don't know how to feel really.
Q. Kind of along those lines, you mentioned you're not really accustomed to playing in a team like this. How did that challenge you as a leader this year, and what do you think you learned about yourself through the process?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, I just in my DNA. Nothing changed for me. I just continue to grow, and it just showed the passion and the energy and just the love of the game, the love of the relationships, the love of the preparation that I bring each and every day towards this game, and that's what it's all about for me is really just making other people around me better because that's something that of course I'm going to remember all the wins and championships and things like that and the records, but the players and the opportunity to help people get better and make this as a living is definitely one thing that I cherish at the top of my priority list as I continue to grow in my profession.
Like a guy Chad and a guy like Keke and a guy like Kahale and Stevie Mitchell, guys that haven't got too many opportunities and making the most of their opportunities this year. I just appreciate all those guys, and it's been fun.
Q. When you think about your game and some of the things that you worked on, what are you proud of from this season, just some of the specifics, things that you technically got better or just an area of the game?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, just situational. Just being that sergeant, always giving our team the opportunity to win a game, and then also just my passer rating, completion percentage, taking care of the ball. I know I had that one interception today, and that was a fluke, but I kind of lollygagged that ball out there and didn't know he was as close, but that's old news. But yeah, just really protecting the ball, giving us opportunities, just letting guys make plays and just being as accurate as I was. That just starts in that QB room and all those guys, I appreciate them, and then me and Quincy working off the field. I don't know, just kind of really just hunted down on the details of play quarterback in this league at the highest level.
Q. What are some of the qualities of new leadership you'd like to see, some of the things you'd like to see coming here to help you guys turn it around?
DESHAUN WATSON: Man, it just starts with the energy and just the foundation of this program. There's no real foundation in view. Everyone sees it. Everyone knows that. Got to have a guy that can come in and stand strong, stand ten toes down and, hey, this is the way it's going to go and this is the way we're going to win. That's what we need.
It's kind of just up in the air right now. That's what I'm looking forward to, some disciplined responsibility and some good fun energy that cares about winning championships and winning games, but at the same time is coming in to work each and every day regardless.
Q. The energy you're talking about there obviously has to do with how things are run and things like that. From an energy from the games, did you think at some point this year if you had gotten a win, won a close game, made something happen late, maybe just the energy of the club would have changed?
DESHAUN WATSON: I mean, the energy was still kind of there. But who knows. I mean, look at the two Tennessee games. We took them to the wire. The two Indianapolis Colts games, both playoff teams, took them to the wire. We can go down the list on and on and on, the Browns on the road in a terrible weather condition, games earlier this year. Yeah, we can sit here and say that, but I couldn't even answer that question and be honest with you.
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FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports