The last time the Texans played a game without J.J. Watt they beat Jacksonville, capping the 2010 season. It was a 6-10 campaign that ushered in major changes on the defensive side of the ball including the drafting of Watt and the acquisitions of Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning. Plus, since that season, the Texans have employed two of the top coordinators in the game in Wade Phillips followed by Romeo Crennel.
Houston’s best defensive finish without Watt was 13th in 2009. The Watt era (and remember, it’s not over yet) has seen the transition from the Texans from an offense-heavy team to one that mostly hangs its hat on defense.