Deshaun Watson arrived to NRG Stadium in a Columbia blue Warren Moon jersey.
At his post-game press conference, he wore it again as a homage to the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback that played ten seasons in Houston and threw for close to 50,000 yards in his NFL career.
"It's all love and respect for Warren Moon," Watson said. "Had a privilege to meet him this summer at The Cam Newton Foundation. It was me, Cam (Newton) and Warren. Just having a great conversations and a great night. We've been communicating throughout camp and throughout the season. He's a great guy that I can look up to and ask for advice because he's been in my shoes before. I just texted him and he said he'll send me a jersey, so I pulled it out for this outfit."
The Texans rookie quarterback is already breaking records in just his first five starts. In Houston's 33-17 win over Cleveland on Sunday, Watson completed 17-of-29 passes for 225 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 103.4 passer rating. Watson reached 15 touchdown passes this season, the most by a rookie in his first six games in NFL history and tied for the most by any quarterback in NFL history through their first six career games (Mark Rypien and Kurt Warner).
Moon set a club record with 3,338 passing yards in his first season with the Oilers in 1984, but Watson has already eclipsed Moon's 12 touchdown passes that year. Though he was born well after Moon's career with the Oilers, Watson knows what the legendary quarterback meant to Houston fans.
"I've seen highlights, but I just know that he's a big part of this city and this organization whenever the Houston Oilers were here, and just how the fan base is still in love with him. What he's done for this city and this organization was huge, and I'm trying to do that – do the same things for the Houston Texans and continue to have success and build on it."
On Sunday, Watson became the first rookie in NFL history with three-or-more touchdown passes in three consecutive games. The last player to accomplish the feat was Butch Songin of the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1960.
"I will tell you that he's a very confident guy," head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's got a quiet confidence about himself. He's just the same guy every day. He really believes in himself. He's a very intelligent guy. He's really never satisfied, I'm not even sure how happy he is right now. I know he's happy the team won, but interception, those types of things. I know he'll be in here tomorrow early trying to get better, that's the type of mentality he has. He's a great guy to coach. Just a really special kid and I think he'll only get better and better."
In the fourth quarter, Watson's pass, intended for Will Fuller V, was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Jason McCourty. Watson was upset about the interception. He had thrown just one other pick-six in his lifetime of football and that was last year when the Clemson Tigers faced NC State. Watson still led his team to a 24-17 win with a touchdown pass in overtime.
In 2017, the Texans have been red-hot, averaging an AFC-best 29.5 points per game. Watson currently leads the NFL with 15 passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.
"Every time we step on the field, we want to score," DeAndre Hopkins said. "If we don't, then we're disappointed. We don't settle for three. It's just that mentality we have going into practice and the way we go out there and handle ourselves at practice and the mentality we have in this locker room, to go out there and score, because we know with the ball in No. 4's (Deshaun Watson) hands, anything is possible."
Since Week 3, Houston has scored 30-or-more points in four straight games for the first time in franchise history.
Check out photos of the Houston Texans as they arrive at NRG Stadium to take on the Cleveland Browns.
