are a totally different ballgame than the regular season

HOUSTON (AP) — On the day J.J. Watt was selected AFC defensive player of the week http://www.thetexanslockerroom.com/authentic-arian-foster-jersey , the defensive end who missed most of the last two seasons with serious injuries was asked if he’s all the way back.His simple answer: “No.”As well as Watt is playing in his comeback, he still believes he can do much more for the Houston Texans, starting with helping them extend their winning streak to nine games with a victory Sunday over Cleveland.“I have very high expectations for the way I play and where I want to be and … like I’ve told you many times I don’t know if I’ll ever say it,” Watt said. “But I’m going to continue to work to get there. The goal is always to be better than you were, you just don’t ever want to just be the same.”Watt has been great in his return this season after not only sitting out the last 11 games of 2017 after breaking his leg, but also missing all but three games in 2016 because of a back problem which required two surgeries. He is tied for second in the NFL with 11 1/2 sacks, has 19 quarterback hits, 13 tackles for losses, has swatted down two passes Jadeveon Clowney Jersey White , and is tied for first in the NFL with a career-high five forced fumbles.“He’s one of the best players to ever play the game,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s a great football player that impacts the game on every snap. I’m just the coach and I’m fortunate that he’s on our team.”Then O’Brien was asked to weigh in on whether Watt is back to his old self after fighting through two years of injuries.“That’s for him to answer because that’s the perfectionist that he is,” O’Brien said. “He’s always going to work to be better than what he thinks he is at that point. That’s what drives him … (but) he’s a great football player and we’re certainly glad we have him here in Houston.”Watt won AFC defensive player of the month honors for September, but this is the first time he’s won player of the week recognition since Week 17 of the 2015 season. He’s now tied with Julius Peppers for most defensive player of the week awards among active players with seven.He appreciates the recognition, but the three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year doesn’t think it means more because it comes in a season when he’s returning from injuries.“I understand the comeback story is a story, and obviously I’m still working to get better every week … but also you just want to play good football to play good football, not just because you’re coming back,” he said. “I’m just happy to be out there playing with my guys. I’m happy to be winning. I’m happy to be contributing and helping the team win games.”Watt’s work this season has helped the Texans become the first team in NFL history to win eight consecutive games after starting a season 0-3. After missing so much time over the last two years, Watt has relished being on the field with his teammates and being part of the turnaround.And while he gets a lot of credit for how Houston’s defense is playing http://www.thetexanslockerroom.com/authentic-shane-lechler-jersey , he’s quick to point out the key to the team’s recent success has been that many players have contributed.“It’s great to be with a group like this, because we’ve just been finding a way,” he said. “And it comes from different areas, different people, different ways, but we’re always a finding a way.” Wild-card games have been a good place for the Houston Texans.The Texans return to the playoffs Saturday for the third time in four years when they host the Indianapolis Colts in a wild-card game. The Texans have won three of their previous four such games.Their last playoff win came in the 2016 season, 27-14 win over the Raiders in Houston. Brock Osweiler was the quarterback and touchdowns by Lamar Miller and DeAndre Hopkins helped the Texans build a 20-7 halftime lead. Osweiler scrambled for a score in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Oakland was missing starting quarterback Derek Carr for that game.Things didn’t go nearly as well for Osweiler and the Texans the following week. Houston was down by only four points at halftime in New England, but Osweiler threw three interceptions in the second half to help the Patriots to a 34-16 win in what would be his last game as a Texan.The Texans’ only wild-card loss came in the 2015 season in coach Bill O’Brien’s first postseason game with the team. It was embarrassing.Houston hosted the Chiefs and the home crowd was stunned into silence when Knile Davis returned the opening kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown. That was just the first blow on a terrible day for the Texans where Brian Hoyer threw four interceptions and managed just 136 yards passing in a 30-0 rout.The Texans posted a franchise-record 12 wins in 2012 under coach Gary Kubiak to win the division and hosted the Bengals to open the playoffs. Houston got four field goals from Shayne Graham and 140 yards rushing and a touchdown from Arian Foster in a 19-13 win.Houston again advanced to face New England and also kept it close until halftime. But the Patriots scored the first 21 points of the second half to push their lead to 38-13 early in the fourth quarter. Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes but the Patriots added a field goal late to secure a 41-28 victory.The Texans, who began play in 2002 Jordan Akins Jersey , reached the playoffs for the first time in the 2011 season, going 10-6 to win the AFC South. Their playoff debut came at home against the Bengals, with third-string quarterback rookie T.J. Yates after Schaub and Matt Leinart sustained season-ending injuries. Yates managed the game well early and it was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter. It was then that another rookie stole the show.J.J. Watt fought off a block, leaped in front of a pass by Andy Dalton to grab his first career interception and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown.After Watt’s momentum-changing play, the Texans added touchdowns by Andre Johnson and Foster to cruise to a 31-10 victory.They moved on to face the Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens jumped to a 17-3 lead and held on for a 20-13 win in a game when Yates threw three interceptions.On Saturday, Deshaun Watson will make his playoff debut and become the fifth quarterback to start a postseason game for Houston when the Colts come to town. O’Brien is certain that Watson, who led Clemson to a national title in 2016, will be ready for the big stage.“The playoffs in the NFL are a totally different ballgame than the regular season, there’s no doubt about that Tashaun Gipson Jersey White , (but) he’s played well for us on big stages,” O’Brien said. “He’s played well on Monday night, Thursday night, Sunday night. He loves it. He wants that … it just seems to me he has a lot of fun on those nights, on those days. He’s done that really his whole career. He did that on big stages at Clemson. I know he’s looking forward to the game on Saturday.”Watson has played well against Indianapolis this season, throwing for 375 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-34 overtime win on Sept. 30 and finishing with 267 yards passing and a score in a 24-21 loss on Dec. 9.