RECAPPING THE TEXANS
The good, bad and ugly from the Texans 20-14 loss to the Colts on Sunday
Nov 5, 2017, 4:14 pm
DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans came oh so close Sunday, but fell short. Tim Warner/Getty Images
Game One of the Deshaun Watson-less Texans went as expected. Not much offense. Defense had to hold the fort down. 30-plus points scored streak is over. Here’s where I would insert the Elmo shoulder shrug GIF in a text to my friends.
The Good
-Tom Savage completed his first career touchdown pass! It was a 34 yarder to DeAndre Hopkins on a double move where he stepped up in pocket and dropped a dime. Here’s to hoping he likes the taste and longs to replicate that feeling.
-The defense has stepped up. Granted, it’s the Colts. But they performed well. 3 sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown is still something to be proud of.
The Bad
-They wasted two timeouts in the third quarter because of miscommunication. This team has trouble getting plays called and has had that problem in the Bill O’Brien era. Those timeouts came up again…
-…at the end of the game when they wasted over 20 seconds after the third down conversion . Indecision has plagued this team in crucial moments. Plays must be ready to be called and the team must be ready to go. Those two timeouts, or at least one of them, could have helped change play calling and saved time.
-Ka’imi Fairbairn missed his first field goal of the year early in 2nd quarter. I made a note at that point because I felt it would be a game changer. It came back to bite at the end of the game when they needed a touchdown to win instead of a field goal to tie.
The Ugly
-Savage is as inaccurate as a Revolutionary War musket. Going 19/44, averaging 4.2 yards per pass isn’t a recipe for winning games. Sure the offensive line is bad, but that was uglier than a blob fish.
-Ryan Griffin sustained a concussion. Texans are a walking infirmary. Key players are getting hurt at a rapid rate. Seems like every week they lose another key contributor.
-288 yards of offense against the 31st ranked defense? Really?!? Watson or not, that shouldn’t happen. They averaged 4.5 yards a carry rushing, but were behind and never really got anything going until late.
-Savage fumbled to end the game. He never got a chance to make a throw to win it because he was pressured from the left side. A mix of Chris Clark and Julién Davenport played left tackle this game since Duane Brown was traded.
Was this a disheartening loss? I’d lean towards yes. Were there looming signs of impending doom? Again, I’d lean towards yes. However, there are some bright spots. Like the fact that the Cleveland Browns may not suck so bad in the near future because they own the Texans’ 1st and 2nd round picks and Deshaun Watson has previously rehabbed a torn ACL so he should come back strong next year.
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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