Clemson Tigers

Clemson football: Deshaun Watson's up and down game just enough

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Clemson football fans were treated to one of the most exciting games of the year, and it was Deshaun Watson finally pulling it together that brought home the win.

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Everyone talked about it for the entire week leading up to the game. It wasn’t just No. 5 Clemson against No. 3 Louisville. This was two mythical superheros about to lock horns. Two Heisman hopefuls waiting to show their moment to the world.

Lamar Jackson vs Deshaun Watson – and it lived up to the billing, with neither quarterback backing down.

Everyone had seen what Jackson could do and how he could completely take over a game. He had been unstoppable leading up to his debut in Death Valley. The Clemson defense was going to be by far the most formidable group he had faced.

For Watson’s part, despite the Tigers being undefeated and improving each week, there were still questions flying around from fans and reporters as to what was wrong with the Clemson star quarterback.

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It’s not that Watson had any bad games, he just didn’t have any Deshaun Watson-like games. He looked rattled at times, and unsure of himself. Had he let the preseason hype about himself and his team get into his head?

What we saw against Louisville may have put some of those doubts about Watson to rest. With a 20 of 31, 306-yard, five touchdown performance against the Cardinals, he put the team on his back when it counted most and led the Tigers to victory.

The three interceptions suffered during this game are a concern to a degree, except when you look at the fact that Louisville was one of the nation’s leaders in takeaways, coming into the game with Clemson with seven total interceptions and fumble recoveries.

Just knowing Watson and the Tigers can win a game against a ranked opponent despite a minus two turnover margin in the game says a lot about the heart of this team.

Watson’s performance was uneven at times, and some of his decisions could have been questioned. But when the team needed him most, he pulled it together for two four quarter touchdown drives to put Clemson ahead for good.

Perhaps it’s time to stop asking what’s wrong with Deshaun Watson and remember that unlike past years, everyone is gunning for not just Clemson, but their quarterback.

This is a team and a leader both with targets on their chests, and every opposing team is going to give their absolute best to burst Watson’s bubble and spoil another perfect regular season.

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Despite some uneven performances by Watson and the Tigers this season, they are in the ACC drivers seat. Just win, and everything else will take care of itself. Don’t worry about how the wins came about, just move on to the next one.