How Texans can build legit win streak, avoid massive letdown vs. Cardinals
IT'S A TRAP!
14 November 2023
The Houston Texans hype train is in full effect after beating Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. If the season were to end today, the Texans would in the playoffs as a wild card.
So the team needs to keep winning as they head to NRG to play three straight home games against the Cardinals, Jaguars, and Broncos.
But first things first, CJ Stroud and company need to take care of business against Arizona. When looking at the Texans opponent, we can basically throw everything we know about them on offense out the window.
The Cardinals are a different team with Kyler Murray and running back James Conner back in the fold. They both returned last week, and helped the team beat the Falcons.
The Texans are currently favored by 4 points, and the total is set at 47.5 points, now the highest total of the week. So Vegas expects a lot of points in this contest.
One matchup we should highlight involves Cardinals TE Trey McBride. He had a big game against the Ravens a few weeks ago and, just this past weekend, recorded 8 catches for 131 yards against Atlanta.
This could be a big factor in Sunday's game, as the Texans have had some issues defending tight ends. Bucs TE Cade Otton had his best game of the year against Houston two weeks ago with 70 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
One thing is for sure, the Texans must avoid this becoming a trap game. Next Sunday's game against the Jaguars will be critical for Houston's chances at winning the division. They don't want to get caught looking ahead.
But with Murray and Conner returning, they should have Houston's full attention.
So can the Texans keep their momentum rolling and beat the Cardinals?
Check out the video above as we break it all down.
Watch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) every Monday on the SportsMapTexans YouTube channel.
Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
Key moment
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Key stat
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
Up next
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.
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