HOUSTON -- Entering the final two weeks of the regular season, the Houston Texans have flipped their win-loss record from a year ago.

Last year, they were 4-10. Right now, they're 10-4.

A big part of that turnaround has been the availability of key playmakers on both offense and defense.

With two games remaining in the 2017 season, the depleted Texans had nearly two dozen players on injured reserve, including defensive end J.J. Watt, quarterback Deshaun Watson, linebacker Whitney Mercilus and a slew of other starters. Of Houston's last eight first-round picks, five missed at least four games to injuries in 2017.

This season, however, only two of those last eight first-round picks -- cornerback Kevin Johnson and receiver Will Fuller V -- have missed games to injuries.

That's why it should come as no surprise that Watt -- who made four straight Pro Bowls from 2012 to 2015 before injury-plagued seasons in 2016 and 2017 -- was once again named to the Pro Bowl.

He shrugged off the accolades on Wednesday when asked about it.

"It's an honor, but the Pro Bowl is kind of -- I mean, if you look around the league at guys that probably should've made it and stuff like that, I mean ... I just want to win football games," Watt said.

In 2016 and 2017, Watt missed a total of 24 games -- first, with two back surgeries in 2016, and later, with a broken leg in 2017.

"Obviously, the last two years were extremely difficult," Watt said. "But, to be here, to be playing meaningful football in December, playing in big games in the winter time and me being out there on the field participating in those games, is awesome. This is just -- it feels good to be back in that situation, to be back on the field, to be getting the sacks, to be playing good football, to be with the guys. I can tell you it's a hell of a lot better than sitting on the couch and watching it from home."

Having Watt on the field instead of the couch has also been huge for the Texans.

Over the past three seasons, including 2018, the Texans are 14-8 when Watt plays in the game and 9-15 when he doesn't.

"It's hard to put into words what he's been able to do and coming back from the injuries that he's had," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "You think about the injuries and the work that goes into the rehabbing and the mindset that you have to have -- especially at the position that he plays. His own ability to drive himself to get back to the top of his game and being elite -- he's a great player and we're very fortunate to have him on our team."

Watson's health has also been pivotal for the Texans.

Last season, Watson made his first start in Week 2 and the Texans were 3-3 over the next six games with him starting, averaging 34.7 points per game before a torn ACL cut his rookie season short. After his injury, Houston hobbled to a 1-8 finish, averaging 13.7 points per game.

Following Sunday's 29-22 win against the Jets, Watson became the first player in NFL history to record at least 5,000 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns and 700 rushing yards in a player's first 21 games. He's just the third player in NFL history to record at least 5,000 yards and 40 passing touchdowns through 21 games, joining Kurt Warner and Dan Marino.

The Texans (10-4) now visit the reigning Super Bowl champions in Philadelphia (7-7) to face an Eagles team that has certainly faced its share of misfortune with injuries this season. A win for Houston can clinch the AFC South and keep the Texans on pace to earn a first-round bye.

As winners of 10 of their past 11, O'Brien and the Texans are valuing the importance of staying healthy and staying in the hunt as long as possible.

"This year is a great example of that -- you can't just ride the wave," O'Brien said. "You have to do your best to try to stay steady. It's good that we've won a lot of close games, and we have a team that plays very hard with good effort and plays together.

"It hasn't always been pretty, but we've been able to come out on the winning end more than the losing end. We have a steady team that really believes in one another, and that's where you want to be around Christmas time and in the hunt."