Deshaun Watson says Clemson controls its own destiny and that it's been a blessing to play football amidst his mother's battle with cancer. (1:29)

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Jeff Scott was prepared for the inquisition. Clemson’s co-offensive coordinator sat at a table in front of a horde of reporters, rattling off statistics from note cards he’d brought with him, an effort to focus on the positives after the Tigers’ first loss of the season.

Then came another question Scott was ready for: What’s happened to Deshaun Watson? Why isn’t he as good as last year?

“I’m glad you brought up last year,” Scott gleamed, shuffling through his cards again.

Out came a flurry of numbers ... touchdowns, yards, completions, pass attempts. All were better than Watson had delivered through 10 games a year ago. Even the interceptions -- the centerpiece of Clemson’s collapse against Pittsburgh -- were a result of more throws, Scott said.

“He’s got four more touchdown passes, but it doesn’t seem like that, does it?” Scott said. “Because of our narrative.”

Naturally the aftermath of such a rare and unexpected defeat will include some verbal gymnastics as players and coaches try to turn the page while media and fans dig deeper into the autopsy, but the defense of Watson -- one of the best players in Clemson’s history, a QB with just three career losses as a starter, a star still likely to earn an invite to the Heisman ceremony -- has been decidedly thorough.

After all, Watson did throw an astonishing 70 passes, completing an even more astonishing 74.3 percent of them, setting a school record with 580 passing yards in the process. He adjusted 22 play calls from run to pass, and nearly every one was the right decision, Scott said. He’d shouldered the burden of virtually the entire offense.

“It’s one of the most unbelievable games by a quarterback,” head coach Dabo Swinney said, “outside of a couple plays.”

Those couple plays, though -- they resonated in a season that, looking back, seemed inexorably aimed toward this moment. Yes, Watson’s stat line is exceptional, but something has felt ... off.

Deshaun Watson completed 74.3 percent of his 70 pass attempts against Pittsburgh for 580 yards and three TDs, but the three interceptions turned a potential rout into a crushing loss. Joshua S. Kelly/USA TODAY Sports

Is it just grandiose expectations that have made it impossible to properly appreciate Watson’s greatness? And if he’s being held to an impossible standard, isn’t that the standard Watson reasonably set during last year’s stretch run?

“It’s hard to be perfect, but that’s something we try to strive for,” Watson said.

When last Saturday’s loss was over, Swinney gathered his team and assumed the blame. Then, one by one, a handful of players were escorted to the firing squad of reporters, each glumly answering questions without ever pointing a finger. The last to arrive was Watson, later than usual but as plainspoken and even-keeled as ever.

“Just makes plays,” Watson said when quizzed on the turnovers. “You always want to talk about the negative plays. I’ve experienced that the past two-and-a-half years. Everyone sees the interceptions and the fumbles or things like that.”

Watson sees the criticism as the enemy, but it’s more likely the hype that has worn on him.

Watson spent an offseason jetting from award ceremonies to camps to media appearances where he was lauded as the best player in the country. He was the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman, to lead his team back to the playoffs. He casually talked about his plans to head to the NFL when the season was over — plans confirmed by Swinney last week before Watson was honored on the team’s Senior Day — and draft experts pegged him as the top QB available. The world saw Watson nearly single-handedly fell the giant in last year’s national championship, and 2016 would only get better.

“It’s kind of interesting because last year people didn’t really know about me until toward the end of the season when I got invited to the Heisman and then watching the two playoff games, that’s when people recognized me,” Watson said. “It’s easy for people to say that I’m not having the type of season I had last year, because to be honest, a lot of people didn’t really know me until the end of the season. So they’re just living off the national championship game and all the success I had in that.”

Perhaps. Scott isn’t wrong about Watson’s numbers. With Clemson’s diminished run game and a flurry of drops by receivers, Watson’s performance, in proper context, is every bit as good as last year.

Swinney isn’t wrong either. Saturday’s performance against Pitt was one for the ages. But when a team loses a game like that, there’s no room for celebration.

“It’s just people in general, talking, saying we’re not as good as people think we are,” Watson said. “You see it all the time. Not just for Clemson, but all the other teams, too. Each team is dealing with adversity and some criticism, because people have their own biased opinions and who they like and who they want to pull for.”

And that feels like the real difference for Clemson’s star QB this season. Last year, Watson played jazz — improvised and fun and unexpected. This year, every note feels forced.

After Clemson squeaked by Troy in the second week of the season, the barrage of criticism started in earnest, and Watson was quick to shoulder the blame. He told reporters he needed to enjoy all the attention — good and bad — more than he had. He promised to embrace the journey, wherever it took him.

In the aftermath of the Pitt loss, Watson said he still felt that way. Senior Day had been a joy, he insisted, and even the loss wouldn’t wipe the smile from his face.

Only Watson wasn’t smiling. He’d played with a sore shoulder, which impacted the play call at the end of the game. He’d thrown two interceptions in the end zone, and that turned a potential blowout into a loss. He’d been quizzed, once again, not on the myriad great throws he made, but the handful of really bad ones.

“I’ve made a lot more mistakes than I want to. But that’s for everybody, regardless of how much hype they have,” Watson said. “Personally, I don’t really care about anybody else’s opinions and expectations. I understand what I’m doing, and my teammates do, too.”