DeAndre Hopkins 5 Best Games with Deshaun Watson
Rumors continue to swirl around where free agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will sign to play the 2023 season. One of those teams that continues to be linked to Hopkins is the Cleveland Browns, which would reunite him with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The two played together for three seasons with the Houston Texans. Hopkins had already been with the team for four years after being drafted in the first round out of Clemson in 2013. The Texans drafted Deshaun Watson in the 2017 draft after a swap of picks with the Browns.
The combination of Watson and Hopkins was one of the most dynamic in the NFL at that time. The Texans would trade Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the 2020 season, the last Watson would play as a member of the Texans.
These are five of the best performances Hopkins had in his time with Watson as his quarterback listed in chronological order, starting with a monster performance in Watson's rookie season. There are games where he has more statistical production, but the game was out of hand. These five games, Hopkins was at his best in games that were in doubt until the end.
Week 8, 2017 at Seattle Seahawks
Stat Line: 8 receptions on 11 targets, 224 yards, 1 TD
This is the most yardage Hopkins has ever had in a game with Watson. Watson completed 19 of his 30 attempts for 402 yards. When Watson didn't target Hopkins, he completed 11 of his 29 attempts for 178 yards along with three more touchdowns. 125 of them were to Will Fuller.
The fourth quarter featured four lead changes and came down to which quarterback had the ball last, Watson or Russell Wilson.
The Texans took the lead early in the fourth quarter on a Lamar Miller run. The Seahawks answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end Jimmy Graham.
The Legion of Boom didn't have an answer for Hopkins all game, which was crystallized by a 72-yard touchdown pass that gave the Texans a 34-31 lead with 4:49 left in the game. Unfortunately, that gave Wilson enough time to drive down the field and find Graham in the end zone for the second time with just 21 seconds left. The Seahawks won the game, but it was a landmark performance for the rookie quarterback as well as Hopkins, already an established star.
Week 4, 2018 at Indianapolis Colts
Stat Line: 10 receptions on 12 targets, 169 yards, 1 TD
The Texans faced Andrew Luck at the peak of his powers with the Colts and needed every point they could muster.
The Texans built up a two-score lead, going into the half up 21-10. Watson found Hopkins for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the half. The Texans defense allowed the Colts to get a field goal going into the break.
The Texans would go up 28-10 before Luck and the Colts charged back. Luck threw for 454 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Colts to score three touchdowns with the Texans only able to add a field goal. Two of those touchdowns came in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter, which sent the game to overtime.
The two teams would kick a total of three field goals in the extra period. The Colts led off the scoring on their first drive, setting up Adam Vinatieri from 44 yards. The Texans responded, locking the game back up 34-34 with 1:54 left in the game.
The Texans opted to bet on their defense and kicked the ball deep. Luck completed back to back passes that moved the ball 21 yards and set up 2nd-and-1. A hold and a sack created a 3rd-and-21 situation. The Colts were able to get 17 yards back on a pass to Mo Allie-Cox, setting up a pivotal 4th-and-4 at the Colts 43. They went for it and failed with 26 seconds left on the clock.
The Texans needed just one play to set up their game winning field goal attempt. Watson found Hopkins for 24 yards. After a spike, the Texans won on a Kaimi Faibairn kick.
Watson completed 29 of 42 passes for 375 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Week 5, 2018 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Stat Line: 9 receptions on 13 targets, 151 yards
Hopkins followed up his late game heroics against the Colts with another strong performance against the Cowboys. The Cowboys stifled the Texans anemic running attack, forcing the Watson to beat them. The Texans were able to move the ball, but had trouble finishing drives in the end zone, settling for four field goals in the game.
The one touchdown the Texans were able to score was set up by a 34-yard Hopkins reception. The 9-play, 70-yard drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown pass to Keke Coutee.
Like the previous week, this game also needed overtime to determine the victor.
It also featured some poor game management by Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. On 4th-and-1 from the Texans 42, Garrett opted to take the coward's way out, punting the ball.
After the Texans converted a first down, Watson found Hopkins on a pass that went 49 yards. The Texans simply centered the ball and kicked the game-winning 36-yard field goal. The final score was 19-16.
Week 15, 2018 at New York Jets
Stat Line: 10 receptions on 11 targets, 170 yards, 2 TDs
This was one of the more promising performances of Sam Darnold's career with the Jets and they were able to put pressure on the Texans, taking the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Watson-Hopkins connection had close to a perfect game. Only one target didn't result in a completion and averaged 15.4 yards per target. They connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to give the Texans a 13-3 lead. After the Texans added another field goal, the Jets would charge back on a 19-3 run, taking a 22-16 lead.
Watson was able to find Hopkins for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in the red zone. They added another field goal to seal the victory.
Watson wasn't just efficient throwing to Hopkins. He completed 22 of his 28 attempts for 294 yards. Both of his touchdown passes were to Hopkins and they won the game 29-22.
Week 15, 2019 at Tennessee Titans
Stat Line: 6 receptions on 8 targets, 119 yards
This was a low scoring affair for most of the game. The Texans scored 14 points in the second quarter and held the Titans didn't get on the board until the third quarter. Hopkins was held in check for the first three quarters, catching two passes for 21 yards.
The fourth quarter when the Titans tried to mount a comeback is when Hopkins took over the game.
The Titans opened up the fourth quarter with an A.J. Brown touchdown, tying the game 14-14. After getting a first down, Watson found Hopkins for a 35-yard strike setting the Texans near the red zone. Four plays later, Carlos Hyde ran in a 10-yard touchdown run.
After forcing a Titans punt, Watson and Hopkins went back to work. On their second set of downs, Watson went deep down the field finding Hopkins up the right sideline for 35 yards. Two plays later, he found Hopkins on an underneath catch and run that went for another 25. Unfortunately, the Texans wouldn't be able to capitalize with anything more than a field goal, but it was late enough in the game to secure the victory.
The Titans scored another touchdown, but failed in their attempted onside kick. The Texans won 24-21. Watson completed 21 of 27 for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Hopkins caught four passes for 98 yards in the fourth quarter.
The pair would only play together one more game after this performance, a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week.
