You’ve got to love the contract season. In the NFL, money is the ultimate motivator, and in Houston we’re seeing a good example of that with defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.

Clowney, the insanely-gifted No. 1 overall pick in 2014, is set to be a free agent in March. He needed another productive season to get paid. He has turned it on of late too, notching 6 1/2 sacks the past nine games. His performance in the Texans’ 32-30 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday may have been his masterpiece of 2018.

That’s why the first topic in this week’s “Things I Enjoyed” column is …

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1. Jadeveon Clowney’s contract #SZN

Clowney was strong in every area against the Eagles on Sunday. Whether it was rushing the passer, stuffing the run, tackling and even playing in coverage, the 6-foot-5, 270-pounder was killing it with his rare combination of size, athleticism and hustle. For a player who was once considered a bust by many after two mediocre seasons to open his career, he has been a downright revelation the past two seasons.

“There’s a lot of things I can say about JD,” coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think he’s a great teammate. I think he comes to play on Sundays. He’s a very disruptive guy. He’s a very instinctive guy. He does what we ask him to do. He made a lot of plays [Sunday]. When he feels good, like I’ve always said about him, when his body feels good and he feels good health-wise, he’s a hard guy to deal with.”

The Eagles found that out first-hand, especially as it related to the pass rush. Here’s a three-play clip of Clowney (No. 90) wrecking fools with his athleticism and strength:

Here’s another three-play clip of Clowney looking strong against the run, either with brute force or his electric, elite swim move:

Clowney even does his thing in coverage:

And finally, here’s a clip of Clowney simply playing his butt off:

When Clowney is playing like this, the only negative to his game is his penchant for undisciplined play. He has been the second-most penalized player in the NFL this season, behind only Washington offensive tackle Morgan Moses. Five of his 13 penalties are for offsides, while three are for neutral zone infractions. Those are penalties of aggression, and when Clowney is playing this well, the Texans will happily take the trade off.

View photos Patrick Mahomes needs two touchdown passes on Sunday to hit 50 in a season. That would put him in company with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only QBs to accomplish the feat in the regular season. (AP) More

2. Patrick Mahomes’ Jeter-like throw (proving his brilliance)

I’ve written plenty about Patrick Mahomes’ penchant for awesome throws this season, but his third-quarter touchdown pass to Charcandrick West — which was more like a slingshot — in the Chiefs’ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday night might have been his best throw yet:

Not only did Mahomes, who was rolling to his left, throw across his body … he also threw SIDEARM, like he’s a shortstop. This is the type of throw Derek Jeter used to make, the type of throw I can’t recall ever seeing a quarterback make in a game. Even Mahomes was surprised by his arm. After the play, he could be caught staring at his right arm like he couldn’t believe it. The throw was Mahomes’ 30th touchdown pass on the road, breaking an NFL record.

By the way, I’ve heard some recent chatter about Mahomes’ 2-4 prime-time record and how it hurts his MVP case. I find it infuriating.

In those six games, the Chiefs averaged 37 (expletive) points under the leadership of Mahomes, who completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,008 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Chiefs’ 31st-ranked defense, meanwhile, surrendered an average of 41 points in their four prime-time losses.

The Chiefs, by the way, are 11-4 and will likely finish with a 12-4 record and the AFC’s top seed, despite having one of the worst defenses in the league. So you tell me what’s the bigger problem in primetime: Mahomes or the defense?