The disparity between quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson (Stroud) continued to grow during Wednesday’s Christmas Day contest against the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson’s impressive performance led the Ravens to a 31-2 victory, showcasing his talent as one of the NFL’s best signal-callers.
Jackson danced around Houston’s defense, accumulating 168 passing yards, 87 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns. In contrast, Watson struggled, failing to match Jackson’s dominance on the ground. Watson’s performance has declined over the month, with eight interceptions compared to eight touchdowns across his last seven games.
The statistics clearly demonstrate Watson’s struggles. He has failed to throw for 200 yards in two of his last three contests and appeared rattled by opposing pass rushers. Watson’s inaccurate passing on should-be completions to open receivers was concerning, and his struggles snowballed throughout the game.
Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Watson, saying “C.J. just has to keep playing” despite some misses. However, it seems that defenses are picking on Watson’s deficiencies as a young quarterback. The Texans’ struggles may be due to various factors, including injured pass catchers, a shaky offensive line, and a questionable play-caller.
Watson acknowledged the need to improve, stating “You hit rock bottom, the only way back is up.” With playoff football approaching, Watson knows he must raise his game. Despite some concerns, the Texans have clinched their division, and Watson remains hopeful for the playoffs. Houston has one regular-season contest remaining against the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 5, and they are guaranteed to host a wild-card round game in the AFC playoffs.
Source: https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/ravens-christmas-loss-cj-stroud-20000910.php