3 reasons the Astros will be a force in the playoffs

Kerry Brooke

Houston is ready for another postseason run. Photos by Getty Images

The Astros are leading the Majors in almost every pitching category, including both starters and bullpen ERA and strikeouts. Even though Houston's offensive isn't as productive as it was in 2017,they are outscoring their opponents by a large margin. This Astros team is capable of winning games in a variety of ways.

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Derek Stingley Jr. just got paid! Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans have secured their lockdown corner for the future, agreeing to a three-year, $90 million extension with Derek Stingley Jr., according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes a staggering $89 million in guaranteed money, making Stingley one of the highest-paid defensive backs in NFL history.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is reporting that Stingley's extension will kick in after his fifth-year option, which the Texans picked up ahead of the extension. He's now under team control for the next five seasons.


Stingley, 23, is coming off a breakout All-Pro season in which he recorded five interceptions (seven if you include the playoffs) and proved to be one of the league’s elite shutdown corners. His performance was instrumental in the Texans' defensive resurgence, solidifying his role as a cornerstone of the franchise.

The only lingering concern for Houston is Stingley’s durability. While he played all 17 regular season games in 2025, it was the first time he managed a full season in the NFL. Injuries limited him to just nine games in 2022 and 11 in 2023. The Texans are banking on his ability to stay on the field, confident that his elite talent outweighs the risks.

With this extension, Houston locks in a defensive playmaker as they continue to build a championship-caliber roster around quarterback C.J. Stroud. If Stingley stays healthy, this investment could pay massive dividends for the Texans' future.


*ChatGPT assisted.

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