Skid over

HOUSTON (AP) J.J. Watt stood to face the media Sunday after his first game since signing a six-year, $100 million contract.

A reporter started his question with: ''You know you don't have anything to prove,'' before Houston's star defender cut him off.

''What do you mean? I've got everything to prove,'' Watt said.

Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a touchdown pass, rookie Alfred Blue blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and Watt lived up to his massive new contract to help the Texans to a 17-6 win over Washington.

The victory is Houston's first since last Sept. 15 and snaps a 14-game skid.

The Texans led 7-6 after a 76-yard touchdown reception by DeAndre Hopkins in the second quarter. Blue blocked Washington's punt on the next drive, scooped it up and returned it five yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 14-6.

Watt signed his contract Monday and showed on Sunday that he isn't content to slow down after getting paid.

He had two tackles for losses including a sack, blocked an extra point, recovered a fumble and swatted down a pass. He also was credited with five hurries of Robert Griffin III.

''The goal is always to be underpaid,'' Watt said. ''You never want to be that guy that people say: `He got money and shut down.' So I want to go out there every single day ... and prove that I'm worth it.''

First overall pick Jadeveon Clowney had a tackle for a loss in the first half before leaving with a knee injury. It wasn't clear how Clowney was injured, but it happened late in the second quarter. O'Brien didn't provide much more information on Clowney's health after the game.

''They think it's a good prognosis so it looks like it's going to be OK,'' O'Brien said. ''He may miss some time, he may not. Who knows? So we'll know better as the week goes on.''

Griffin threw for 267 yards, but Washington was done in by two second-half fumbles.

A 42-yard field goal by Randy Bullock in the fourth quarter was the only score of the second half in a game that featured the NFL head coaching debut for both Washington's Jay Gruden and O'Brien.

''When games are so close, a couple of big plays are going to be the difference,'' Gruden said. ''We're going to be in a lot of those close games, so we have to figure out how to make them and how to stop them.''

Both teams got off to a slow start offensively, gaining just one first down apiece and punting a combined seven times in the first quarter.

Washington took the lead when Darrel Young scored on a 1-yard run about six minutes before halftime, but Watt blocked the extra point attempt to make it 6-0. That score was set up by a 21-yard run by Alfred Morris.

It didn't take the Texans long to erase the deficit when Fitzpatrick found Hopkins wide open before he juked Bacarri Rambo to finish the 76-yard score. Rambo is filling in for Brandon Meriweather, who was suspended for the first two games for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Washington fumbled on consecutive plays in the third quarter. The first one came when Griffin bobbled a handoff to Morris, who dropped it before Watt pounced on it for the seventh recovery of his career.

The next error came when Griffin found Niles Paul, who had gotten in front of the defense, for a 48-yard pass. But D.J. Swearinger stripped the ball and Kendrick Lewis recovered it at the 9-yard line. A thunderstorm started brewing outside as that play unfolded and a loud clap of thunder boomed through the stadium as Lewis jumped on the ball.

The Texans didn't take advantage of either of the fumbles. They punted after the first one and Arian Foster lost a fumble to end a long drive by Houston following the second one.

Washington was driving late when Watt knocked down a pass by Griffin on third down. They went for it on fourth down, but couldn't convert and the Texans ran out the clock.

Foster ran for 103 yards in his first action since offseason back surgery.

''I thought Arian got every inch that he could out of the running game,'' O'Brien said. ''He meant a lot to our team today.''

Fitzpatrick had 206 yards passing in his first game with the Texans, who traded away last year's opening day starter Matt Schaub to Oakland in the offseason.

NOTES: Washington TE Jordan Reed has a strained hamstring and nose tackle Barry Cofield has a sprained ankle. ... Houston LB Brian Cushing had five tackles in his first game since a season-ending knee injury midway through last season.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

NFL Hot News

Who's in and who's out of the early games in Week 1?



And we made it! Welcome back for another season, kids. Whether you are a defending champ or a first-timer, it's just an exciting day. It's Week 1. Today has that new-season smell. I hope you're as psyched for the action as we are.To help you out this morning, this post will be updated continuously between 11:30 a.m. Eastern and the early kickoffs with the latest news about today's injured stars.Obviously, the top name everyone's watching is Cam Newton. Can he go with his fractured ribs? Unfortunately, his game doesn't kick off until the late afternoon, but if we see anything about his status, we'll pass it along in this post. We'll also be updating the statuses of Rob Gronkowski, Tom Brady, Jordan Reed, Garrett Graham, Sammy Watkins and many others. Keep refreshing this page for all of the latest.---------------------------------------------------------------- It's not official yet, but NFL Network's Albert Breer reports, via a source, that Texans TE Garrett Graham won't play today versus the Redskins due to his back injury. Ryan Griffin and rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz are expected to fill in, but neither is a fantasy option despite the quality matchup. Update: It's official now. Fiedorowicz will start in place of Graham-- Steelers rookie WR Martavis Bryant told NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala that he will not play today. He has a sprained shoulder and was limited late in the practice week. Bryant is off the re-draft radar right now.-- Tom Brady is good to go. And he'll be throwing to Rob Gronkowski. Both are active. Brady is set as a QB1. Gronk will see limited snaps, but even if he doesn't play a ton, he's too dominant to sit. Play him unless you have another top-five option.-- Ravens CB Lardarius Webb is out. That makes this matchup a little easier for A.J. Green.-- Redskins TE Jordan Reed is officially active despite a thumb injury. He is a solid TE1 in Washington's offense.-- Eagles RB Chris Polk is out due to a hamstring injury. The Eagles have listed only two backs as active: LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles.-- Bills WR Sammy Watkins is active, and he will play with bruised ribs. Even in a good matchup against the Bears, the rookie is only a mediocre WR3. Thanks, E.J. Manuel.-- The Patriots have listed WR Aaron Dobson and RB James White as inactive. These are small surprises as both are thought to be healthy. Bump up Julian Edelman and Kenbrell Thompkins a little bit with Dobson out. No White means a few extra snaps for Stevan Ridley.The Jaguars will actually start Allen Hurns, not Mike Brown, in place of the injured Cecil Shorts. Despite the start for the preseason standout, he is just a Hail Mary option. I would rather play Marqise Lee.-- Rams rookie RB Tre Mason is inactive. He'll be replaced by RB Trey Watts. Mason is buried on the depth chart right now. Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham will handle the carries for St. Louis today versus Minnesota.The Bills' top cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, is inactive because of a groin injury. That's good news for Jay Cutler and Co.-- Saints WR Nick Toon is inactive. So, New Orleans have four WRs active: Marques Colston, Brandin Cooks, Robert Meachem, Joe Morgan. Morgan will reportedly start, but he's not a fantasy option right now.-- One note on Cam Newton: FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports that the "plan right now" is for the Panthers to hold Newton out of this afternoon's game against the Bucs. If don't have a safety-net backup for the late-afternoon start, get Cam out of your lineup. Don't get burned with a zero. Derek Anderson would start in his place. Players who have already been ruled out for Week 1 include: Cecil Shorts, Kenny Stills, Odell Beckham, Marvin Jones and Lance Moore. You can read more about those players and the impact of their absences below.



-- Shorts was ruled on Saturday due to a hamstring injury. He is one of the more injury-prone wide receivers in the league. Three rookies -- Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns -- have the most fantasy value in this passing game today. They are all deep-league options. I prefer Lee. Each of them could produce in garbage time with the Eagles expected to win this game by a lot.-- Stills is down with a quad injury. The Saints obviously have enough players to replace him. Brandin Cooks may see a few extra targets. He is an incredibly intriguing WR3.-- Beckham missed the entire preseason due to a strained hamstring, and he is not expected to practice for another couple of weeks. The Giants' offense looked so bad during the preseason, it's hard to have faith in starting anyone other than Victor Cruz and perhaps Rashad Jennings against the Lions' solid defense in Detroit.-- Jones is working his way back from a broken foot. He should return in October. In his place, Mohamed Sanu will see most of the work. He is a so-so WR4 versus the Ravens.-- Moore is out due to a groin issue. The Steelers have enough guys to replace the veteran wideout, such as Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton and tight end Heath Miller.