EAST RUTHERFORD Quincy Williams II Jersey , N.J. (AP) — With each victory, the Houston Texans increasingly established themselves as a team to beat in the AFC.Their nine-game winning streak set a franchise record and also raised expectations by the week. So, perhaps their 24-21 loss to Indianapolis last Sunday could, in some way, alleviate some building tension down the stretch.Right, Deshaun Watson?Article continues below ...“You only put pressure on yourself,” Watson said. “For us, we don’t really put pressure on ourselves. We don’t really focus on that. Of course, we didn’t want to lose. We always want to win and try to continue to stack those, but it just kind of goes that way sometimes. It’s the National Football League.“We just try to focus on the next opponent, the next game and try to get back in the win column.”Watson and the Texans (9-4) will get their chance to do that Saturday when they take on Sam Darnold and the struggling New York Jets (4-9).Houston could clinch the AFC South title with a win and then a loss or tie by both Indianapolis and Tennessee on Sunday, or with a tie and losses by both the Colts and Titans. The Texans could also seal a playoff berth with a combination of other scenarios involving several other teams.Either way, they know they can set themselves up nicely with a victory at MetLife Stadium.“With three games left throughout the regular season, I think you home in and focus in Ryquell Armstead Jersey ,” cornerback Johnathan Joseph said, “especially on one game at a time, 12 quarters of football, however it has to be.”Meanwhile, the Jets are just focused on the finish line — and perhaps the end of coach Todd Bowles’ tenure.New York snapped a six-game skid last Sunday with a 27-23 win at Buffalo, but it would appear Bowles will not be back next season after four years without a trip to the playoffs. General manager Mike Maccagnan is not a certainty to return, either, with some misses in the draft and free agency during his tenure.“It’s the same thing every week: We want to win every game, regardless of whether we’re going to the playoffs or not,” Bowles said. “We want to get every game and get better as a team. That’s all we’re trying to accomplish.”Here are some things to know about the Texans-Jets matchup:WET WEATHERIt’s expected to rain for much of the day, with showers at kickoff. That will be something different for the Texans, whose home stadium — NRG Stadium — features a retractable roof.“You’ve just got to go out there and try to grip the ball as best you can,” said Watson, playing at MetLife for the first time. “You focus on your footwork a little bit more Gardner Minshew II Jersey , be cautious with that and understand that the receivers might — depending on the turf or the grass, wherever we’re playing — (focus on) their footwork. … You’ve got to just go play ball.”SAM’S CLUBDarnold returned from a strained foot that sidelined him for three games and went 24 of 30 passing (80.0 percent) in the win against the Bills. It marked the fifth time in team history a player had a completion percentage of 80 or better and the first since Chad Pennington did it twice in 2007.He also showed off some cool nerves by leading his first fourth-quarter comeback.“I think every experience for him, he’s so into it,” offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said. “He doesn’t get real high, doesn’t get real low, he just takes every moment as a learning moment, both good and bad. So, I think it’s just another moment that he’s going to take for the rest of his career, for the rest of his life and use it as a teaching experience.”MISSING WEAPONSDarnold will be without two key playmakers on offense with top running back Isaiah Crowell (toe) and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa (ankle) both ruled out with injuries.Elijah McGuire and rookie Trenton Cannon will see increased opportunities in the backfield, while Rishard Matthews and Deontay Burnett could be called on to replace Enunwa.WATT’S UPHouston’s J.J. Watt has bounced back this year to have another strong season after playing just eight games over the previous two years because of a back surgery and a broken leg.The defensive end leads the team with 12 1/2 sacks, 22 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for losses and a career-high five forced fumbles. His 88 1/2 career sacks are the second most through a player’s first 101 games, trailing only the 106 that Reggie White had.“The last two years were extremely difficult,” he said. “But Christian Wilkins Jersey , to be here, to be playing meaningful football in December, playing in big games in winter time and me being out there on the field participating in those games, is awesome. This is just, it feels good to be back in that situation, to be back on the field, to be getting the sacks, to be playing good football, to be with the guys.”TAKING CARE OF THE BALLThe Texans did not turn the ball over last week, marking the sixth time this season that they’ve had zero turnovers in a game.It’s the second-best streak in a season in franchise history. A big reason: Watson has thrown just two interceptions in the last seven games after being picked off seven times in the first six games. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers didn’t have to look far to find Cam Newton’s backup.Turns out he was just down the street.Carolina selected West Virginia quarterback Will Grier, who grew in the Charlotte area and cheered on the Panthers as a youngster, after he fell to the bottom of the third round. Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said the decision to draft Grier was not out of concern about Newton coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.“This has nothing to do with Cam Newton,” Hurney said. “He is our franchise quarterback and our starting quarterback.”But Hurney said it’s vital for the Panthers to develop young quarterbacks. The team hadn’t drafted a quarterback since taking Newton with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011.“This is a position when you find a guy you like and have a chance to get him and it helps the depth at the most important position Michael Deiter Jersey , you have to do it,” Hurney said.Grier, whose favorite athlete is former Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith, said it is “surreal” that the Panthers selected him.When the Panthers called to inform Grier they were taking him, he was literally within walking distance to the Panthers downtown stadium living in temporary housing until the draft.“Unbelievable opportunity,” Grier said. “I couldn’t be more excited. I don’t even have to move. It’s what I always wanted to play for the Panthers.”Coach Ron Rivera said the Panthers had decided more than a year ago it was time to begin developing a young quarterback as a backup and potential long-term replacement.“Marty talked about finding that next guy,” Rivera said. “We have to develop the next guy.”Grier, who is married and has a young daughter, was a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Manning Award and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting after throwing for 3,864 yards and 37 touchdowns last season for the Mountaineers.But he started getting antsy as he began to fall in draft.He and has father, Chad, who used to watch the Big Bang Theory together, decided to switch seats just moments before he received a call from the Panthers to provide a change of luck.“We both have some Sheldon tendencies,” joked Chad Grier of the main character in the TV show. “I think it worked. His agent said we should have done it hours ago Daniel Jones Jersey , though.”Hurney said Grier is already a mature quarteback and has the “it factor.”The GM downplayed concerns about Grier’s lack of arm strength, saying he can make all of the throws needed to succeed in the NFL.“It’s not a question for us,” Hurney said.The move gives the Panthers some insurance in case Newton struggles to come back from his shoulder surgery.Earlier, the Panthers traded up 10 spots to No. 37 in the second round to get Mississippi left tackle Greg Little, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound left tackle who was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection last season to protect Newton’s blind side.“I take pride in keeping people safe,” Little said of protecting Newton. “And I’m going to keep him safe.”Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said he felt the need to trade up to get a left tackle because they were “flying off the draft board” and Carolina needed to fill that spot before they were all gone. Hurney believes Little has a good chance to come in and compete to be the opening day starter at left tackle.The move was costly for the Panthers, who gave up their own second round pick (No. 47) and an early third round pick (No. 77) to Seattle to move to get Little.But Hurney said the team couldn’t wait any longer.“We really liked Greg and we had really good grades on him,” Hurney said. “There was a run on tackles and we didn’t think he had any chance to get to us (at No. 47).”In the last 960 snaps the last two seasons, Little has only allowed 26 quarterback pressures.“He’s big, he’s athletic and he has long arms,” Hurney said.Little fills a big need for the Panthers following a disappointing 7-9 season.Carolina cut left tackle Matt Kalil with three years left on a $55 million contract after he missed all of last season with a knee injury. The team had to sign free agent Chris Clark early in the season to come in and play left tackle in 2018. He eventually lost the starting job to Marshall Newhouse.