JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- After Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson took a hit on a drive early in the second quarter, he did four push-ups before getting back up for the next play.

Why?

"Everyone was asking if I was good," Watson said. "So, you know, I had to do some push-ups to let them know I'm a tough dude. I have some muscle on me where I can take those hits."

Watson certainly doesn't have anything to prove to anyone after playing yet again through injuries to his ribs and lung and leading the Texans to a 20-7 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Watson completed 12 of 24 passes in the win for 139 yards and a touchdown. It was his first game this season without throwing an interception.

"I give credit to Deshaun [Watson], because I think he is a very tough individual," coach Bill O'Brien said. "He has sacrificed a lot over the last couple of weeks to put himself in a position to play."

The quarterback said he feels "a lot better" than he did a week ago after the Texans beat the Buffalo Bills, and that he feels confident being out there because he has been cleared to play by Houston's medical staff.

"Health has always been my first priority," Watson said. "If it's something that is going to make it worse, or if I'm not cleared by the doctors, then, you know, I won't step on the field.

"But once I get cleared and I'm able to play and I'm confident, you know, I just kind of battle through it. Like I've said before, this is bigger than me and, you know, I'm a competitor. I love this team so much -- and what I've been through previously and what we've been to leading up to this point, you know, I want to be out on the field with them and try to win."

Though Watson was cleared to play in the game, he did take a 12-hour bus ride from Houston to Jacksonville instead of flying with the team to protect his bruised lung and injured ribs from the air pressure.

Watson's teammates spoke about how impressed they have been with Watson and the way he has been able to play despite the injuries. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins called his quarterback "a warrior."

Added outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney: "When the quarterback can put that stuff on his back and carry the load, it makes it easier for everybody else around him. ... He steps up for us week in and week out."

Watson said his injuries didn't really affect his game, but he was able to run a little more this week instead of "just sitting in the pocket and throwing it away, or just taking a sack" like he did against the Bills.

"Aside from that, everything was pretty normal," Watson said.

Watson, who has been sacked 26 times and hit 71 times this season, took just one sack and five hits on Sunday against the Jaguars' talented defense. While protecting Watson is always a priority, Texans left tackle Julién Davenport said the offensive line knew going into this game that it had to be as focused as possible on keeping Watson upright because of his injuries. That will continue to be a focus, as the Texans have a short week before they play the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

"We talked about it as a group, the O-line," Davenport said. "We've got to do everything we can to protect this guy. Him having to take a bus down here to just play a football game shows how tough he is, first of all. And just shows that we have to keep him upright. That's the main focus every week."