J.J. Watt powered up NRG Stadium Sunday with a defensive touchdown to give the Texans their first lead of the day against Buffalo.
"The first thing I saw was E.J. Manuel, and then I saw Kareem (Jackson) block him, and then after that all I saw was green grass," Watt said. "I had one earlier in the game when I went after the quarterback instead of the screen, and this time I went after the screen instead of the quarterback."
Houston got a much-needed boost after Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass was intercepted to start the second half.
"I think anytime J.J. makes a play like that, anybody on our team makes a play like that, especially at home where you get the crowd into it, I mean the roof almost came off on that one," head coach Bill O'Brien said after the game. "The crowd was so loud, it was just a great play. He's a very instinctive, great player. It really turned the game, no question about it."
On 3rd-and-3 of Buffalo's ensuing drive, Manuel's short pass intended for Fred Jackson was picked off by Watt and returned 80 yards for a touchdown with the assistance of a few key blocks by Jackson.
"I was just trying to get in the way," Jackson said. "The big fella has some wheels on him, so I figured if I got in the way, then he would take it to the house. It was a big point in the game and it was huge for us to get seven points."
Watt is just the second player to score a receiving touchdown and interception touchdown in the same season since the 1970 NFL merger. The first was Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel during the 2005 season with the New England Patriots.
Watt's 80-yard interception return for touchdown is now tied for the sixth-longest interception return for a defensive lineman in NFL history. All seven returns have gone for a touchdown. It was also the fourth-longest interception return in Texans history.
Watt finished Sunday's game against Buffalo with five tackles, one interception, one pass defensed, and a career-high nine quarterback hits.
Watt called his second career pick-six in Sunday's game "really cool, special, and a lot of fun." He was, however, less than pleased with his touchdown celebration as he crossed the goal line.
"I'm not going to lie," Watt said, laughing. "I have no idea what that was. I looked up at the scoreboard and was like, 'Oh, my brothers and my teammates are going to have my head.' Part of me was like it might be a Deion high-step. The other part of me was like, I think it's called a nae-nae. The other part of me was like, 'You are a white defensive lineman - there is no need for you to be pushing things for God's sake.' With that and my Verizon commercials, all my dancing cred is out the window."
