Odds Favor Deshaun Watson Being Sacked Fewer Than 4 Times in Week 3

• Texans QB Deshaun Watson has been sacked an NFL-high ten times in the first two weeks
• Houston plays the Chargers in Week 3, who have been struggling to generate much pass rush
• Will Watson be sacked at least four times against LA? Odds favor the under

Stop if you’ve heard this before – the Houston Texans have failed to keep Deshaun Watson upright this season.

Despite trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, their issues blocking up front have continued early in the 2019 season, as has been the case since Watson was drafted.

Sportsbooks have posted an interesting weekly special prop: will Watson be sacked four or more times?

Will Deshaun Watson Be Sacked 4 or More Times in Week 3?

*Odds taken 09/19/19

The initial odds favor three or fewer sacks. Is there value wagering on the Chargers teeing off on the Texans star quarterback?

The Texans Are Giving up Sacks at an Alarming Rate

If you have living under a rock, the Texans protection issues are nothing new.

The Texans allowed an NFL-high 62 sacks (384 lost yards) last season. The Colts allowed an NFL-low 18 sacks (134 yards lost). That's a difference of 250 yards (or 15.6 per game).

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 23, 2019

Despite upgrading at left tackle with the acquisition of Laremy Tunsil before the season, the issues have persisted. Watson has no absorbed at least three sacks in each of the last 11 games, which obviously can’t be good for a QB who underwent season-ending knee surgery in the 2017 campaign.

Deshaun Watson Sacks in Last 11 Games

The Chargers Pass Rush Has Been Stifled

This season, the Chargers have just two sacks, one each from their usual suspects Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Last year, nobody on their squad had more than Ingram’s seven, while Bosa had 5.5 in seven contests.

Outside of those two, no Charger has put up more than five sacks in any of the three previous seasons so it shouldn’t be a shocker that they’re not getting to the QB in 2019.

Sacks in First Two Weeks

Somewhat strangely, the Chargers picked up a pair of sacks against the stout Colts front five in Week 1, yet didn’t pick up any in Week 2 against a Lions squad that doesn’t exactly have a reputation for having dominant blockers.

Lean Towards the Over on Watson Sacks

Given that the Texans have failed to keep Watson upright for such a long period of time and the persistent and worrying injury to his blind side protector, Tunsil, this feels like one of those games where the Chargers defense gets back on track, sack-wise, and dominates the battle of the trenches.

According to ProFootballFocus, the Texans pass blocking through two weeks is 18th in the league, while the Chargers pass rush is 11th in the NFL. The scales are slightly tipped to LA.

Pick: Yes (+200)