Pro Football Focus Grades Texans In Sad Loss To Seattle

This is very exciting. I was dying to see these numbers that Pro Football Focus charted out simply because I wanted to know more about Jadeveon Clowney’s game. He had some oceanfront property in Seattle’s backfield last Sunday, and I had to learn more. Here is what PFF had to say on the Texans’ performance against Seattle.

First, the offense.

—It was an up-and-down performance by quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson put up huge numbers when he wasn't facing pressure as he completed 13-of-17 passes for 312 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. However, like all season long, he struggled under pressure completing just 6-of-13 attempts for 90 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and five sacks. Watson was at his best throwing the ball down the field as he completed 7-of-10 attempts for 222 yards with two touchdowns and one interception on passes more than 20 yards downfield. Watson finished the day with an overall grade of 80.8 as he also added eight carries for 67 yards including 45 yards on four scrambles.

—It was a dominant performance by wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins as he hauled in 8-of-11 targets for 224 yards with one touchdown, one interception, 107 yards after the catch and a passer rating of 107.2 when targeted. Hopkins posted the best grade amongst wide receivers across the NFL in Week 8 at 94.0.

—Will Fuller continues to do big things since returning from injury as he snagged 5-of-8 passes for 125 yards with a long of 59 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Fuller had a passer rating of 106.3 when targeted and posted the ninth-best grade by a wide receiver in Week 8 at 80.4.

—It was a brutal day in pass protection on the right side of the line as right guard Jeff Allen (38.5 overall grade) allowed two sacks and two pressures on 29 pass-blocking snaps, while right tackle Breno Giacomini (33.3 overall grade, worst on the Texans) allowed one sack and seven additional pressures on 40 pass blocking snaps.

Now, the defense.

—Edge defender Jadeveon Clowney was a terror for the Seattle offensive line as he couldn't be stopped in the run or passing game. Clowney posted one sack and eight additional pressures on 48 pass-rushing snaps while adding four stops on 18 run snaps. Clowney finished the day with the best overall grade for Houston, and edge defenders, in Week 8 at 96.6.

—Nose tackle D.J. Reader was very stout against the run, posting four stops on 16 run snaps en route to a run defense grade of 87.6. Reader also added two pressures and finished the day with an overall grade of 85.4 which was sixth-best amongst interior defenders in Week 8.

—Cornerback Kevin Johnson struggled in this one as he allowed 6-of-9 targets for 90 yards with a long of 53 with one touchdown allowed and one pass defended. He allowed a passer rating of 136.3 when targeted and finished with the second worst grade on the day for Houston at 35.0.

—Linebacker Benardrick McKinney tied for the team-lead with four stops on 18 run snaps along with posting one pressure on 13 pass-rushing snaps and allowing 1-of-3 targets for 8 yards and a passer rating of 42.4 when targeted on 37 coverage snaps. McKinney finished the day with an overall grade of 81.6.

—It was a rough day for rookie Zach Cunningham (35.5 overall grade) who was completely exposed in pass coverage. Cunningham allowed 4-of-5 targets for 98 yards with a long of 66 and 52 yards after the catch with two touchdowns and a passer rating allowed of 158.3.

What do you think? What did you get out of the information provided by Pro Football Focus? Did it match what you saw on the field?