In the first start of his pro career, rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson made the game-breaking play necessary to lead the Houston Texans to victory.
In the dying moments of the first half, with the score tied 3-3, the player the Texans traded up to take with the 12th pick of this year's draft showcased his first-round status. Watson slashed through the entire Bengals' defense on a dazzling 49-yard touchdown run that proved to be the winning score.
The play uplifted the Texans' sideline and had Watson's teammates gushing about the rookie after the 13-9 victory.
"He's a leader. He was everything we expected. He's the guy we drafted," star receiver DeAndre Hopkins said.
"It was insane," defensive end Christian Covington said of the run. "That's why he is who he is. The whole sideline went crazy. That was a game-sealing touchdown right there."
Watson has produced the team's only two touchdowns of the season. He found Hopkins for a 4-yard score in a 29-7 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, but brought the Texans' record to 1-1 with his first career rushing score.
"I was just trying to make a play. I broke away and found a hole," Watson said.
"Our receivers and everyone down field did a good job of blocking for me and gave me a chance to find the end zone."
The Texans will have nine days before their next contest, against the defending-champion New England Patriots.
