TEXANS ON TAP
Evaluating Houston Texans' best opportunities in daunting Jags matchup
Sep 19, 2023, 4:00 pm
The Houston Texans head into Week 3 of the season looking for their first win on the road against a familiar foe, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags are 1-1 coming off a home loss to the Chiefs, so they'll be looking to get back in the win column against Houston this weekend.
Currently, the Texans are a 9.5 point underdog heading into the game, so coming out on top presents quite the challenge. The Texans injuries have certainly played a factor so far this season, so we'll see if Laremy Tunsil, Jalen Pitre, and Jimmy Ward are able to return to action this week.
A new twist we didn't see coming: The Texans might have an explosive passing game
On the bright side, the Texans managed to beat the Jaguars last season, so coming away with a win isn't out of the question. CJ Stroud is showing all the signs of a future franchise QB, and the receiving corps looks promising, with 3 pass catchers recording over 70 yards against the Colts last week.
The defense is where Houston really needs to step things up. They had zero sacks and zero interceptions against both Colts quarterbacks last week. If Trevor Lawrence has all day to throw, and the Texans once again can't keep the running game in check, it could be another long day for DeMeco's defense.
While starting off the season 0-3 would be disappointing, it's hard to know what this Texans team would look like with their regular starters on the offensive line, and both their starting safeties on the field. Houston will have another big injury to deal with this week, as slot corner Tavierre Thomas will be out with a broken bone in his hand.
That could pave the way for slot receiver Christian Kirk to have a big day against the Texans secondary. As Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson have done a good job in coverage so far this season. However, Calvin Ridley has been a big weapon for the Jags, and will have to be kept in check, if the Texans want to keep things close.
For a full breakdown of the game, be sure to watch the video above.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.