TEXANS VS. FALCONS
How Houston Texans can keep victory train rolling against Falcons
Oct 6, 2023, 3:56 pm
TEXANS VS. FALCONS
What: Texans vs. Falcons
When: 10/8, 12pm CST kickoff
Where: Atlanta, GA Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV/Radio: KRIV-TV, KILT-Radio
Betting Lines: Falcons -1.5 (-110), O/U 41.5 (-110) *As of this writing
At 2-2 with both wins being impressive, the Texans are turning the corner. The Falcons have the exact same record, but they aren't seen as a team on the rise for some reason. Quarterback play, and potential, have a lot to do with that outlook. So does faith in the front office and coaching staff. Where the Texans are solid with their head coach and general manager, the Falcons aren't. Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith were hired as GM and head coach in 2021. Entering their third season together, Smith looks incompetent and Fontenot seems a bit shaky. Drafting Kyle Pitts, but not being able to figure out how to use him is egregious. The Texans, so far, have seemed to hit on their last draft class, but their 2022 class is disappointing at the top. There's still time for both teams to prove their worth, but the Texans have a leg up on the Falcons. (cough cough...C.J. Stroud)
When the Falcons have the ball: The Texans run defense this year has been okay at best. They rank 18th in yards allowed per game this season (116.5). The Falcons average 128 per game on the ground, ranking 12th in the league. Having Maliek Collins (abdomen) back this week should help. So should having Denzel Perryman (hand) back. Both guys will be key to stopping Bijan Robinson. He's averaging six yards a carry this season. Their offense revolves around him. While he only gets 18 touches per game, a lot of their offense is predicated on what he brings to the table. Desmond Ridder is very average at quarterback. His 62.2 completion percentage along with a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio this season speaks to that assessment. Nothing jumps out for him so far in the league. The Texans defense should have a field day in passing situations. Look for Will Anderson Jr. and company to tee off on Ridder.
When the Texans have the ball: Getting Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard back will be HUGE! With Kendrick Green going on IR, Howard will be playing left guard this week. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said this move is about getting the five best guys out there this week. Stroud has been able to navigate the loss of practically all his starting offensive lineman (at one point or another) fairly well this season. Having those guys back should only make him better. That's a scary thought considering the pace he's currently on. He's averaging over 300 yards passing a game this season. The Falcons are giving up less than 200 yards per game through the air. That is where this game will be won. If the Texans can continue their blistering pace passing the ball, the Falcons will have a hard time winning this game.
Friday’s Injury Report for #HOUvsATL ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Oy38NCVCOD
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) October 6, 2023
Outcome: When I said these teams are headed in different directions, it meant more than just recent history. The Texans lost their first two games, and won their next two. The Falcons won their first two, and dropped their next two. I expect that trend to continue this week. The Falcons don't have the ability to shut down the Texans pass game. In their two losses, Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence combined to go 45/63 (71.4%) for 450 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. I see Stroud more on par with them than with Bryce Young and Jordan Love, the guys they beat in their first two games. Take the Texans and the points, money line, and the under: Texans 23, Falcons 13
Wilmer Flores homered again and Luis Matos and LaMonte Wade Jr. also went deep to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
It’s the fourth home run this season for Flores, who hit just four in 71 games last season. His four homers were tied with Aaron Judge, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki for second-most in the majors entering Wednesday night’s games.
Flores got things going with his two-run shot to the seats in left field off Framber Valdez (1-1) with one out in the first. Matos made it 3-0 with his shot to center field to start the second.
Heliot Ramos doubled with one out in the inning to extend his streak with an extra-base hit to six games to start the season, tying Felipe Alou (1963) for the longest such streak in franchise history. The double drove in two runs to push the lead to 5-0.
Jeremy Peña walked and stole second base with two outs in the second before scoring on a single to center field by Zach Dezenzo to cut the lead to 5-1.
Dezenzo gets us on the board pic.twitter.com/vmmW7T74fE
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2025
Valdez allowed four hits and five runs with nine strikeouts in five innings after throwing seven scoreless frames on opening day.
The Astros loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth to chase Landen Roupp. Randy Rodríguez (1-0) took over and Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-3. But Rodríguez retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to limit the damage.
Roupp allowed four hits and three runs with eight strikeouts in four-plus innings. Camilo Doval pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Wade’s pinch-hit home run with one out in the eighth was his first hit after opening the season 0 for 16.
Rodríguez’s performance in the fifth in working out of the jam to keep the Giants on top.
It’s the first time the Giants have swept the Astros since August 28-30, 2012, in Houston’s last season in the National League.
The Giants are off Thursday before Justin Verlander (0-0, 3.60 ERA) starts their home opener against Seattle on Friday. Houston opens a series at Minnesota on Thursday with Hunter Brown (0-1, 3.00) on the mound.