BY NICK ST. DENIS
J.J. Watt might have single-handedly (pun intended) made the difference in the Houston Texans' 23-17 victory over the New York Jets.
The second-year defensive end took two likely New York touchdowns off the board, helped set up a Texans field goal and made a game-sealing sack.
Watt, often recognized for his ability to tip passes at the line, got his hand on a Mark Sanchez toss late in the first half that would've likely knotted the score at 14-14 entering the break. Instead, the pass was intercepted and returned into scoring position, where kicker Shayne Graham gave Houston a 17-7 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Jets were in position to get within a field goal when Sanchez had a receiver wide open in the end zone on a red zone slant route. But again, Watt tipped the pass at the line, preventing the score and forcing the Jets to kick a field goal.
"That happened quite a bit tonight," Sanchez said of the deflected passes, according to the NY Daily News.
Watt then made his only sack of the game on the Jets' last true offensive drive, which put Gang Green outside field goal range.
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