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.
José Soriano and two relievers combined for a two-hitter and Oswald Peraza hit his first home run since a trade from the Yankees to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Soriano (10-9) allowed one hit and struck out eight in seven innings. Luis García allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth and Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth for his 25th save.
There were two outs in the fifth when Peraza connected off Hunter Brown (10-7) into the bullpen in right-center field to put the Angels up 1-0. His homer comes after his two-run single in the ninth inning Saturday helped Los Angeles to a 4-1 victory that snapped a three-game skid.
Yoan Moncada walked to start the eighth and scored on Mike Trout’s double that bounced off the wall in center field to make it 2-0. Taylor Ward walked before Luis Rengifo reached and Trout scored on an error by Lance McCullers Jr. when the pitcher overthrew first base.
Yordan Alvarez singled with no outs in the first and Soriano walked a batter in the second and sixth innings. The Astros didn’t get another hit until Ramón Urías doubled with one out in the eighth inning. Los Angeles outfielder Taylor Ward was injured trying to make a catch on that hit when he crashed face-first into the metal scoreboard in left field.
He was carted off the field holding a towel to the right side of his face. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance where interim manager Ray Montgomery said he would receive stitches to close the cut and be evaluated.
Brown allowed three hits and a run with five strikeouts in six innings. McCullers Jr. allowed three hits and two runs in his first relief appearance since 2018.
Key moment
The home run by Peraza.
Key stat
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
Up next
LHP Yusei Kikuchi (6-9, 3.68 ERA) will start for Los Angeles in the series finale Monday against RHP Luis Garcia, who’ll make his return after sitting out since May 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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