Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson has a knack

HOUSTON (AP) — for making big plays Benardrick McKinney Color Rush Jersey , whether it’s with his arm or his feet.But after the quarterback took a few too many unnecessary hits in a 19-16 overtime win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, his teammates wondered if maybe he should dial things back a bit.“I be in the huddle telling him to get down,” receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. “I need him. That’s what I tell him honestly. Don’t take those hits unless you … have to. But he’s a warrior. He wants to get in the end zone every time the ball is in his hands.”Watson threw for 375 yards with a touchdown and an interception and ran 10 times for 40 yards for the Texans, who won in overtime for the second straight week.Houston coach Bill O’Brien agreed with Hopkins that Watson is taking too many blows but added that he doesn’t want to cut down on the hits at the cost of changing the way he plays.“We’ve got to do a better job of making sure that he doesn’t take as many,” O’Brien said. “At the same time, it’s a fine line because that’s part of his game. That’s the way he plays the game.”“He enjoys that part of the game to be honest with you,” O’Brien continued. “I think it’s something that we continue to coach and obviously, it’s something we don’t want an abundance of him getting hit, but sometimes it does happen.”The Texans were driving late in the fourth quarter when Xavier Woods intercepted Watson, who threw under heavy pressure, with 10 seconds left and returned it 15 yards to give Dallas the ball at its 47. Watson was taken down hard by two defenders on the play and was slow to get up. He was checked out in the medical tent after that, but returned to throw a 49-yard pass to Hopkins in overtime that set up the game-winning field goal.He took a huge hit earlier when he tried to scramble for a touchdown near the goal line.“I try to do what’s best for the team,” he said. “I know sometimes what’s best for the team is protecting myself, but when we are down there at the goal line and I’m trying to get in the end zone, that’s my mentality. … I’m built to take those hits. I’m going to give all my will and all my guts to try to get the ball in the end zone.”Some things to know about Houston’s win over the Cowboys.WATT’S WORKHouston defensive end J.J. Watt had a sack on Sunday night to give him six this season, which is tied for the NFL lead with Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins and Watt’s younger brother, Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt.Watt has been great in his return from missing most of the last two seasons with injuries and was named AFC defensive player of the month for September last week.The three-time Defensive Player of the Year said he’s feeling pretty good but still has work to do.“I’m still working back from everything and still getting back,” Watt said.NOWHERE TO RUNDallas running back Ezekiel Elliott finished with a season-low 54 yards rushing on 20 carries. It was the third-lowest total for Elliott, who entered the game leading the NFL in yards rushing.Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Houston’s defense made it difficult for Elliott to get anything going.“They loaded it up in there and did a good job loading up the front,” he said. “We weren’t consistent running the football inside, really throughout the game … Zeke ran hard, a couple of times, he almost came out of there, but it was not as consistent as we’d like it to be.”100-YARD HOPKINSHopkins finished with 151 yards receiving for his third 100-yard receiving game this season. His 594 yards receiving this season leads the NFL. Coach Bill O’Brien raved about what he brings to his offense.“He’s a playmaker, he’s a great player Jordan Akins Color Rush Jersey ,” O’Brien said. “We’re always trying to get the ball in his hands.” PITTSBURGH 鈥?On the surface they’re identical. Below the surface too. Large. Loud. Remarkably athletic and remarkably close. Well compensated and well tattooed.Still, Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey believes there is one surefire way to tell him and Los Angeles Chargers center (and very slightly older brother) Mike apart on Sunday night when the Chargers visit Heinz Field.More Badgers coverageBadgers overwhelm Savannah State 101-60Badgers fall four spots to No. 16, Marquette returns at No. 21 in AP pollBadgers’ Taylor, Benzschawel make AP All-America first teamPhotos of the Week: 12/2/18 – 12/8/18Lebedeff makes 21 saves as Badgers shut out Spartans 3-0Just have the twins switch places at halftime and let Maurkice snap the ball to Los Angeles quarterback Philip Rivers for a quarter or two. Then the differences between the Pounceys will be unmistakable.“I’ll take that team to the next level baby,” Maurkice Pouncey said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “They’ll definitely notice.”Maurkice is kidding. Mostly, though he does have a slight edge over Mike in Pro Bowl selections (six to three). The 29-year-olds are well aware of the unique opportunity playing against each other offers. Separated by a minute at birth, the Pounceys were virtually inseparable growing up until Maurkice left the University of Florida for the NFL in 2010.They’ve spent their professional lives rooting for each other from afar 鈥?Sunday is only the fifth time they’ll be together in the same NFL stadium 鈥?and both feared Mike’s career might be in jeopardy after a hip injury limited him to five games with the Miami Dolphins in 2016.“It was a point that we both thought that and it was tough,” Maurkice said. “Lord willing, a lot of hard work, and the doctors did a great job. Obviously he’s playing at a high level and he’s been blessed to be out there.”Mike returned to play a full 16 games last season, but found himself looking for work after the Dolphins cut him in a salary cap move in March. The Chargers sprinted to scoop him up, bringing him to the West Coast on a two-year, $15 million deal just four days after getting released. The change of scenery provided Mike Pouncey with a mid-career jolt, and his presence has played a significant role in the Chargers’ hot 8-3 start.“We knew it was a big signing when we signed him,” Los Angeles coach Anthony Lynn said. “But it’s even better than what I thought.”Asked what the Mike Pouncey experience is like, Lynn laughed.“I’m pretty sure it’s similar to what you guys have in Pittsburgh,” he said.Translation: a lot of jokes. A lot of trash talk. And a relentless work ethic that belies their copious amounts of swagger.“He’s the same player as me,” Mike Pouncey said. “He’s going to go out there and give you everything he has on each play. (My teammates) more excited (than I am) because we have a real good friendship on this team, and they go out there and talk smack to my brother to make me feel a little bit better. It’s going to be fun.”The entire Pouncey clan will descend on Maurkice’s house in the Pittsburgh suburbs on Saturday. As for split allegiances, Maurkice’s offer to host came with one very simple directive: If you root for the Steelers, you can crash at his place. If not? You’re on your own.How tight are they? Maurkice admits Mike might be the only person in the world outside of his children he actually calls on the phone rather than just texting.It’s the same for Derek and T.J. Watt, though the two brothers 鈥?T.J. is a second-year linebacker for the Steelers, Derek is in his third season as a fullback for the Chargers 鈥?won’t have the luxury of standing on the sideline watching the other play like the Pounceys do.There’s a very real chance that T.J. and Derek will find themselves on a collision course sometime Sunday night, the first time that’s ever happened somewhere other than the family backyard or the random University of Wisconsin football practice when both were playing for the Badgers.Not that T.J. believes there’s going to be time to think about bragging rights. If his assignment on a play is to ram into the guy wearing No. 34 DeAndre Hopkins Color Rush Jersey , then that’s what he’s going to do.“It’s a football game to me,” T.J. said. “I don’t think anything is going to really change. I don’t think in that split second you can determine who’s who and what’s what, so whatever happens, happens.”Older brother J.J., the star defensive end for the Houston Texans, hopes they are forced to ram into each other at least once so “we can settle it once and for all.” Provided, of course, there’s no cheating on either side.“I basically just said, no cut-blocks,” J.J. said. “That’s the only thing. Just don’t go at his knees. Otherwise, everything’s fair.”Though Derek, 26, lacks the star power of his older or his younger brother 鈥?both of whom were first-round picks while the Chargers selected Derek in the sixth round in 2016 鈥?T.J., 24, might know better than anyone on the planet that you overlook the middle Watt brother at your own risk.“He may not get all the publicity that J.J. and I get, but Derek’s been in the NFL, this is his third year,” T.J. said. “I don’t see many people in America doing that. I don’t see many people in the world doing that. He’s playing at the highest level. He’s a starting fullback for an NFL team; I think that’s pretty damn cool.”Connie and John Watt will watch their boys go at it from the stands, trying to stay as neutral as possible. They might want to get used to it. All three Watt brothers are on teams heading to the postseason, meaning more family showdowns loom.“I hope the game, I don’t know, I guess ends in a tie,” J.J. Watt said. “I guess that’s probably the best thing for everybody. It’s probably good for (the Texans) too.”