How Houston Texans look to extend streak against flailing Falcons
LET'S GO STREAKING!
03 October 2023
After dominating the Steelers at NRG this past Sunday, the Houston Texans turn their attention to Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons.
The Texans and Falcons both have the same record sitting at 2-2, but the Texans version of 2-2 feels much different. Houston is improving each week with an impressive rookie QB, while Atlanta has dropped their last two games to the Lions and Jaguars.
What's more concerning is the Falcons offense. They have some talented skill players with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. But the quarterback play from Desmond Ridder has been underwhelming, and fans are starting to question if the team needs to begin searching for another QB.
In the meantime, if Ridder has serious struggles again on Sunday, you have to wonder if the team will make the switch to backup QB Taylor Heinicke. Ridder and the Falcons have only scored 13 combined points over the last two games.
For the Texans, Steven Nelson has been terrific at corner, so we expect him to continue his productive level of play against Atlanta's top receiver, London.
The Texans have had their issues defending the run game over the last several seasons, so keeping Robinson in check should be the team's top priority.
And what else is there to say about CJ Stroud? He has been impressive to say the least, and with OC Bobby Slowik allowing Stroud to continue pushing the ball downfield even with a lead, shows you how much he trusts his rookie QB.
Currently the Falcons are favored by two points at home this Sunday, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the Texans win as an underdog once again this week.
Houston could get a big boost to the offensive line with Tytus Howard set to come off IR and Juice Scruggs not far behind.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full early preview of Texans-Falcons.
If you enjoy the videos, be sure to watch Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) every Monday on the SportsMap Texans YouTube channel.
How Houston Astros bounce back starts with a 'Diesel' push
Apr 3, 2025, 7:09 pm
Christian Walker and Jeremy Peña homered and Brendan Rodgers had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Houston Astros to a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
Hunter Brown (2-0) gave up two runs in the first and shut down the Twins the rest of the way, allowing five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts in six innings. The 26-year-old righty retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.
Bryan King, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader pitched scoreless innings in relief. Hader earned his third save.
Twins starter Joe Ryan (0-2) allowed five runs on five hits and struck out six over five innings.
Minnesota took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of its home opener. Matt Wallner led off with drive to the warning track that got stuck under the padding on the wall in right-center. He reached third base on the play, then scored on Carlos Correa’s groundout. Byron Buxton followed with an infield single. He stole second and scored on Trevor Larnach’s line-drive single to left-center.
The Astros got those runs back when Walker and Peña started the second with back-to-back homers.
Rodgers put the Astros on top for good with a two-run single in the fourth and drove in Victor Caratini with a double in the sixth to make it 5-2.
Key moment
With runners on first and second and one out in the fourth, a Ryan balk moved both runners into scoring position. The Twins brought their infield in, and Rodgers chopped a single just past a diving Correa at shortstop, scoring both on a ball that could have been an inning-ending double play.
Don't miss the video below as Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan from Stone Cold 'Stros react live to the win on YouTube!
Key stat
Jose Altuve struck out five times, the first five-strikeout game in his 15-year MLB career.
Up next
RHP Bailey Ober (0-1, 27.00) of the Twins will face Houston RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-0, 1.50) on Saturday.
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