Critical opportunities Houston Texans must seize versus Broncos to resume playoff march

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The Houston Texans will look to get back on track this week against the Broncos, who are suddenly back in playoff contention after ripping off five straight wins.

Too bad Houston didn't get to play the Broncos earlier in the season.

The Texans host Russel Wilson and company this Sunday at NRG and are currently 3.5 point favorites. Vegas is expecting a lot of points as they set the total at 47, the second-highest of the week.

After two straight games with over 100 yards rushing, Devin Singletary and the Texans rushing game came crashing back down to Earth with 32 rushing yards combined between Singletary and Dameon Pierce.

Things could change this Sunday, with the Broncos allowing the most rushing yards per game (155.18). To be fair, many of the Broncos stats are skewed with their terrible start to the season, and a game in which they allowed a whopping 70 points to the Dolphins.

During Denver's winning streak, they held the Chiefs and Bills to 9 and 22 points, respectively. But the one edge the Texans have over almost every team in the NFL is quarterback play.

The Texans and CJ Stroud are 1st in passing yards per game (297.6) and 4th in total yards per game (396.4).

So who will come out ahead in this critical matchup?

Check out the video above for a full early breakdown of the game, plus predictions. And go Texans!

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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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