SPITTING FACTS
Peyton Manning drops truth bombs on CJ Stroud and Texans doubters
Jun 26, 2025, 3:23 pm
Peyton Manning has Stroud's back! Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.
Peyton Manning had some very interesting comments recently about CJ Stroud's perceived sophomore slump last season. Much of the skepticism, Manning believes, comes from surface-level narratives. The Texans went 10-7 in the regular season last year, a step back from the lofty expectations set after C.J. Stroud’s electric rookie year and Houston’s dramatic playoff push.
And while the offense didn’t maintain its early-season explosion under Bobby Slowik, people seem to be overlooking how that same Texans team ended the year: as one of the last four teams standing in the AFC — alongside the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens.
Stroud has now won a playoff game in his first two seasons, while Manning didn't win his first playoff game until year six of his career.
With a new OC in house, and DeMeco Ryans leading the way, Manning likes what he's seeing from Stroud and the Texans moving forward.
It’s pretty cool watching Stroud take in praise from one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Manning gets it, and before long, the rest of the league and media will too.
Check out the video below to see the full conversation!
Peyton Manning on CJ Stroud at @FanaticsFest:
“He went to the playoffs in his 2nd year. He was 22. Let’s be careful saying it was a down year. I didn’t win a playoff game ‘til my SIXTH year. He’s 2 for 2.” pic.twitter.com/dtd9dU5Nj1
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 25, 2025
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.