HOUSTON (AP) ¡ª Last year at this time Houston Texans T-Shirts , Houston's J.J. Watt and Deshaun Watson were rehabbing after serious injuries cut both of their seasons short and contributed to the Texans¡® terrible 4-12 season.Healthy and thriving this season, the stars lead the AFC South champion Texans into Saturday's wild-card game against Indianapolis."We talked about times like this when we were in the training room, what we wanted to accomplish and what we were working toward," Watt said. "So, for it to be where we are now and to have everything in front of us, it feels really good. I think that we can both look back at all the work and all the tough times that we had and be happy and proud of where we're at now."On Sunday, moments after Houston clinched its third division title in four years with a win over the Jaguars, the quarterback and defensive end found each other amid scores of players celebrating on the field and shared a big hug.After neither of them was able to play a full season last year it was a moment to appreciate their journeys and the accomplishment of not only playing all 16 games, but helping the Texans to their fifth playoff appearance.Watson said they often meet up on the field or in the locker room after games, but admitted that this time it was different."There was a little bit more because we clinched the division, AFC South champs," Watson said. "We finished a full season together, so it was a special moment."Coach Bill O'Brien said when he was at the stadium during the offseason he'd often find the two players together working in the training room."They were together a lot," he said. "They were side-by-side. Different injuries, but kind of going through the same schedule of things ¡­ (and) it looks like there was a bond created there ¡­ and I think that was good for both guys."Watson returned this season after playing just seven games as a rookie after tearing a knee ligament in practice. The 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft threw for 4,165 yards and 26 touchdowns this season to become the second player in team history and first since Matt Schaub in 2012 to throw for 4 https://www.texansfanshop.com/hats ,000 yards. He added 551 yards rushing and five touchdowns to become the first player to have at least 4,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns and 500 yards rushing and five scores in a season in NFL history.Watson hasn't thrown an interception in 207 straight attempts, a franchise record and the longest active streak in the NFL. His emergence is a revelation for a team that has had a revolving door at quarterback since Schaub was traded before the 2014 season.Watt's comeback comes after the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year played just eight games over the previous two seasons because of back surgeries and a broken leg. He was selected to his fifth Pro Bowl and first since 2015 in a season where he had 61 tackles, led the AFC with 16 sacks, had 25 quarterback hits, 18 tackles for losses and forced a career-high seven fumbles, which tied for the most in the NFL. It's his fourth season with at least 15 sacks, which ranks second in NFL history behind Hall of Famer Reggie White, who had five.Watt feels as if their time working together to get back on the field helped build their relationship.And after seeing 11 different quarterbacks start a game for Houston since he was drafted in 2011, he loves the continuity Watson has provided at the position."We have a great relationship. He's an incredible talent," Watt said. "He's a great guy and I've been through a lot of quarterbacks here throughout my career. So, to have a guy back there who's special and can do a lot of different things, it's great."Watson agreed that their time spent together when they were injured helped forge a closer friendship and he even went so far as to say that he now sees Watt like a brother.While the pair is grinding to return to pre-injury form, they had many conversations about the future and the 29-year-old Watt had plenty of advice for the 23-year-old Watson."Just being able to be on the same page," Watson said. "Like he told me back then, he's going to be that leader on that defense Houston Texans Hoodie , and lead that whole troop, that whole squad and I'm going to do the same for the offense and we're going to bring this whole team up. We knew the work we had to put in to be able to come back and play a full season and try to get the team to this position, to have a chance."And on Saturday they'll try and continue their strong rebound seasons and get Houston a win to put the Texans in the divisional round for the fourth time and first since the 2016 season. HOUSTON (AP) ¡ª Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson has a knack for making big plays, 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 Cullen Gillaspia Jersey , 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,¡± O¡¯Brien said. ¡°We¡¯re always trying to get the ball in his hands.¡±