The Houston Texans are 5-0 on the season after defeating the New York Jets on Monday night and might be the best team the NFL. One thing is for sure, they are the best team in the AFC.
A big reason for their success so far this season is due to running back Arian Foster and defensive end J.J. Watt. The two players are young (Foster 26, Watt 23), and have quickly made themselves known as two of the best players in the NFL.
Foster was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and played in six games with the Texans, but has since turned himself into an offensive machine, rushing the ball and catching passes out of the backfield.
In his second season Foster busted onto the scene, earning the NFL rushing title after gaining 1,614 rushing yards. He scored 16 touchdowns that year and also added 66 receptions for 604 yards and two touchdowns.
Foster broke the Texans franchise rushing record for a single game by gaining 231 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
In 2011 Foster missed three games due to injury, but still was able to rush for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns. He added 53 receptions for 617 yards and two touchdowns and was named to his second straight Pro Bowl.
Against the Jets on Monday night, Foster was his usual self, rushing for 152 yards and a touchdown. He achieved a big milestone in the game, amassing 5,000 total yards from scrimmage in his career faster than any other player in NFL history apart from Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James. He did it in just 40 games.
On the other side of the ball, Watt has quickly turned himself into one of the most ferocious and skilled defensive players in all of football.
So far this season he leads the league with eight pass deflections from the line of scrimmage, including three against the Jets.
He had one sack in the game, but his disruption of passes turned out to be crucial for the Texans. One tip was intercepted by the Texans to set up a field goal and another stopped a pass from getting to a wide open Chaz Schilens in the end zone. To add insult to injury, he batted down Marko Sanchez's final play of the game to seal the win.
"That's what you dream about," Watt said according to the LA Times. "It's 'Monday Night Football.' You're on the field. You have a chance to end the game. That's what you want. For us to go out there and do that, it's huge."
Watt was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft and quickly made his presence known to the league. As a rookie last year he had 5.5 sacks, 56 tackles and four pass deflections as the Texans made the playoffs and were ranked at the top of the league in defense.
Through five games this season Watt has already beat his sack total from last year with 8.5 and has added 26 tackles and two fumble recoveries. He is on pace for over 20 sacks and could add another 10-20 pass deflections as the year wears on.
Watt is one of the big reasons that the Texans felt comfortable allowing former No. 1-overall pick Mario Williams walk to Buffalo in free agency.
Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips may have described Watt best of ayone. According to FoxSportsSouthwest.com, Phillips said: "(Watt's) going to be a bust -- not a first-round bust but a bust in the Hall of Fame," he told the Houston Chronicle. "The only players I've seen that can do what he can do with his intensity can be found in Canton."
Early on Watt is the favorite to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year and could even garner some MVP votes if he keeps playing this way.
Foster and Watt make the Texans a true force in this league and the scariest thing is that they are both locked up for the next few years. In March foster signed a $43.5 million deal over 5 years, while Watt is playing on his four-year rookie contract that is worth $11,237,000. Just above $50 million for two of the best players in all the NFL? Not too shabby for the Texans.
One thing that could slow the Texans down this season is injuries. Last year Foster was banged up and the team lost quarterback Matt Schuab for the playoffs after hurting his foot. Both players have looked healthy this year, but in last night's game one of the Texans top defensive players went down and it could be serious.
Linebacker Brian Cushing left the game in the second quarter following an injury to his knee. According to ESPN.com, the team is afraid it is a torn ACL, which would end Cushing's season.
Cushing is was the 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year and is one of Houston's defensive leaders.
"I don't want to jump the gun," coach Gary Kubiak said to ESPN.com. "He'll get it looked at when we get home and we'll hope for the best.
Cushing will undergo testing on Tuesday.
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