TEXANS VS. CHARGERS
What's working (and what needs help) ahead of Texans' clash with Chargers
Jan 7, 2025, 12:54 pm
The Texans host the Chargers this Saturday at NRG. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Texans are rested and ready for the playoffs after most of their starters played only sparingly in a win over Tennessee on Sunday to wrap up the regular season.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud and running back Joe Mixon played only the opening series. But it was an effective drive capped by a touchdown reception by Nico Collins that helped the Texans find a rhythm after being shut out on offense in a 31-2 loss to the Ravens.
Now they move on to the playoffs for a second straight season where they’ll host the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card round Saturday.
“Our team has played really good football throughout the year,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We’ve earned a right to play postseason football, which is always our goal and now we’re excited for whatever opportunity comes next.”
Houston’s 23-14 victory gave the team 10 wins, which marks the sixth time in franchise history the Texans have had at least 10 wins.
After Mixon went to the bench, Dameon Pierce stepped in and had 19 carries for a career-high 176 yards. That performance was highlighted by a 92-yard touchdown run that was the second-longest run in franchise history.
His 176 yards rushing are the third most in franchise history and the fourth most in the NFL this season.
“He maximized the opportunity today with the carries that he had, made some really big runs for us,” Ryans said. “I was excited. I think our whole entire sideline was excited to see him play the way he’s played for us.”
The Texans hope he can carry the momentum from this outing into the postseason in the limited carries he’ll get in relief of Mixon.
What's working
Pierce’s performance helped the Texans pile up 207 yards rushing. It was their second-highest rushing total of the season and most since they had 213 yards rushing in their season opener against Indianapolis.
It came after Houston had managed just 142 yards rushing combined in the previous two games.
What needs help
The Texans need to clean up problems in their kicking game before the postseason after Ka′imi Fairbairn missed his second extra point of the season in the second quarter Sunday.
It comes after Fairbairn also missed an extra point in Houston’s loss to Kansas City on Dec. 21. Fairbairn has been great on long kicks this season, making 13 from 50 yards or longer. But the eight-year veteran has struggled on shorter kicks, missing two from less than 30 yards, along with the two missed extra points.
Stock up
DE Derek Barnett returned a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown Sunday for his second touchdown this season and the third of his career. He became the 12th lineman in NFL history to have two fumble return touchdowns in a season.
He joins DEs J.J. Watt and Mario Williams as the only players in franchise history to have two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble return for a score in a single game.
Stock down
DB Kris Boyd, who plays almost exclusively on special teams, received a flag for unnecessary roughness on a punt Sunday. It was the fifth penalty this season for Boyd, which is tied for the second-most penalties on the team.
Injuries
DE Will Anderson will return this week after sitting out Sunday with a hand injury. … WR John Metchie was evaluated for a concussion after a hard hit to the head Sunday but returned in the fourth quarter. … CB Jeff Okudah could be back this week after missing Sunday’s game recovering from a concussion.
Key number
1,000 — Mixon and Collins became the sixth RB/WR combination in franchise history to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
Mixon finishes the regular season with 1,016 yards rushing despite missing three games with an injury and Collins, who missed five games, had 1,006 yards receiving for his second straight 1,000-yard season.
Next steps
Houston hosts a playoff game for a second consecutive season after beating the Browns 45-14 in the opening round last season.
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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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