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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How latest Astros events highlight serious concerns around core philosophies
May 22, 2025, 12:59 pm
Two seasons ago the Astros were oddly feeble at home and warriors on the road. Now, this season is headed nowhere if they can't pick it up away from Daikin Park. In the first week of April, the Astros won their initial road series of the season. It will be June before they win another. Well, presumably June. Approaching seven weeks since they took a series at Minnesota, it's now seven consecutive road stops without a series victory. In six straight three-game road series the Astros have lost two out of three, including at the laughingstock White Sox. They did split the four-game set in Arlington against the Rangers last weekend. The Astros’ road record is 10-15.
Now they're home for 10 in a row, starting with four versus the team the Astros look up at in the American League West standings. The Seattle Mariners hit town three and a half games ahead of the Astros. Last June, the Astros trailed the Mariners by 10 games and wound up winning the division. Expecting a sequel as good as an original usually is not a good idea. Winning this series is certainly not a necessity given the season still only reaches its one-third completed mark this coming Tuesday. Still, at least getting a split is advised, or the Astros are looking at falling five and half games off the lead should the Mariners win three out of four, seven and a half back should Seattle sweep. But flip the script. If the Astros sweep, they go to bed Sunday night leading the division. Taking three out four would be just fine, and have the Astros within a game and a half of first.
The Astros are carrying a payroll roughly 75 million dollars larger than that of the Mariners. The M’s have a farm system (currently one of the highest rated among the franchises) vastly superior to what the Astros have (one of the worst systems in the sport). So if Mariners’ ownership opted to loosen the purse strings in pursuit of in season talent infusions, the M’s are way better positioned to make an impact move than are the Astros. Just remember, even if the Mariners are going to pull away, the wild card picture does not have three teams that are obviously ultimately better than the Astros.
Positive vibes only
If you're into good luck charms, dig up a four-leaf clover or find a rabbit's foot, then cross your fingers where Ronel Blanco is concerned. It is quite an ominous sign that the Astros sent Blanco back to Houston a day early after he reported soreness in his pitching elbow. I mean, who would be surprised to hear that Blanco is done for the season a la Hayden Wesneski. It's increasingly essential that Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez hold up physically and qualitatively the rest of the way. That Brown had his worst start of the season Wednesday in Tampa is no big deal. It's called being human. The Rays torching him for three home runs and five runs in five innings spiked Brown's earned run average all the way up to 2.04. Ooooh. Brown has been fantastic.
The Astros underestimated how long Spencer Arrighetti would be out. Shocking! Some boost from him seems necessary. There is only so much the Astros can reasonably hope for out of Lance McCullers, and the likes of Colton Gordon and Brandon Walter. That either Cristian Javier or Luis Garcia makes it back by, say, August is a best-case scenario. Then it would be hope about level of performance. The Astros hold no monopoly on serial pitching injuries. The Mariners have lost three-fifths of their stout starting rotation. George Kirby making his first 2025 start Thursday is a boost for them. Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller are both still out.
Heart of the matter
Among the core frustrations for Astros’ fans are the continued crummy overall performances of Jose Altuve, Christian Walker, and Yainer Diaz. If it turns out that the 35-year-old Altuve has truly fallen over the hill as opposed to just enduring an extended deep slump that would be an obvious bummer. The same with the 34-year-old Walker though there is no emotional tug for Astros’ fans with Walker as there is with Altuve. Yainer Diaz is just 26. His regression is troubling, perhaps low-lighted by his one walk in his last 33 games played, four walks for the season in 170 plate appearances. That’s pathetic. Yainer, Victor Caratini, and Astros’ pitchers have collectively done a brutal job at dealing with opposition running games. The Astros have given up 62 stolen bases in 67 attempts, with one of the five caught stealings a pickoff, another a botched double steal.
For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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