With a last-second field goal that secured a 41-38 win for Tennessee over Houston, the Texans’ struggling season has mercifully ended with a 4-12 overall record.

Because of an earlier trade for their firstand second-round picks in the upcoming draft in exchange for offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, the Miami Dolphins will have the third overall selection in April’s draft while Houston isn’t slated to make a pick until the third round.

Despite a lackluster overall performance from the Texans in 2020, quarterback Deshaun Watson had an outstanding season where he finished atop the passing yard rankings with a franchiserecord 4,823 yards. He became the first player with 12 or more losses to lead the league in passing yards since Jeff George did it for the Raiders in 1997.

“We play to a standard. That’s what I’m all about. I want to continue to grow and keep pushing. That was pretty dope to accomplish that,” Watson said of leading the league in passing.

He also threw 33 touchdowns compared to only seven interceptions, with one last Sunday, and wide receiver Brandin Cooks was on the receiving end of six of them this season and two in the season finale.

“He’s a special quarterback,” Cooks said. “You talk about a guy who loves the game. He continued to fight for this organization. All you can do is respect that.”

Along the same vein, Houston defensive end J.J. Watt has been a face of the franchise following three defensive player of the year honors. With only one year remaining on a six-year contract, the possibility that he played his final game for the Texans entered his mind following the defeat.

“I’ve certainly considered it. Like I said there’s too many unknowns to really know,” Watt said. “It’s unfortunate we had this type of season, but who knows? There’s a lot of unknowns. I think this city knows, I hope they know how I feel about them and how thankful I am.”

After the game, Watt was seen leaving the field with Watson apologizing to him, saying, “We wasted one of your years. I mean, we should have 11 wins.”

Last Sunday’s tilt was a 17-9 contest at halftime in favor of the visiting Titans but the pair of touchdowns from Watson to Cooks made Houston’s deficit only 31-21 following a successful two-point conversion.

The Texans rode that momentum to the lead where running back David Johnson supplied a 1-yard touchdown rush and then Watson found Pharaoh Brown for a 7-yard connection that made the hosts’ advantage 35-31.

Although Tennessee took a lead after a 5-yard rush from quarterback Ryan Tannehill with less than two minutes to play, Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn tied things with only 22 seconds left to play.

In response, the Titans used two plays to set up the gamewinning field goal attempt that Sam Sloman nailed from 37 yards out to win the division for Tennessee. Although the kick hit the upright, it finished by crossing the plane and ended the Texans’ season with a loss.

“It’s just unbelievable. We had eight one-score games. It’s just a rough year, this season all in one game,” Johnson said.

Interim head coach Romeo Crennel finished with a 4-8 record after former head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien was fired after an 0-4 start to the season. Houston enters the offseason in search of a head coach and general manager and Watson hoped the new candidate will revive the energy deep in the heart of Texas.

“We need new culture, energy, discipline, structure. We need a leader. We’ve got to have the love for people. We’ve got to be on the same page. There’s too many different ideas and people thinking they have the power and it’s not like that,” the signal-caller said. “There’s no real foundation in view. Everyone sees it. Everyone knows that. Got to have a guy that can come in and stand strong, stand 10 toes down and (say), ‘Hey, this is the way it’s going to go, and this is the way we’re going to win.’”

“He’s a special quarterback. You talk about a guy who loves the game. He continued to fight for this organization. All you can do is respect that.”

— WIDE RECEIVER BRANDIN COOKS