4 reasons Texans QB Deshaun Watson has taken fewer sacks

The offensive line

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has taken 28 sacks, the fewest of his career through the first 11 games of a season. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly provided four reasons as to why Watson has done a great job of staying off his back this season. “Obviously, it starts up front," Kelly said. "The guys up front are doing a good job protecting him for the most part, giving him time to sit back there and get through his reads."

Receivers are winning their routes

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"The wide receivers are doing a really good job of getting open quickly, so he doesn’t have to sit back there and hold and wait for one particular guy," Kelly said. "With everybody out there running good routes and winning, he’s able to get the ball out of his hands."

Watson is making good decisions

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

"He’s doing a really good job as far as being able to make good decisions," said Kelly. "Not only just being able to check protections, understanding when he’s hot, realizing when and where the pressure’s coming from."

A dearth of third-and-longs

(AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)

"Really, everyone on the entire offense has done a good job of keeping us out of those third-and-long situations," Kelly said. "Typically, in those third-and-10 to 10-yard-plus, I think everybody has a hard time protecting that down and distance when those guys are rushing the passer like they do. "Everyone from the backs to the tight ends to the line to the wideouts to Deshaun are doing a good job of keeping us in third-and-manageables so he doesn’t have to hold on to the ball for an extended period of time.”