Evaluating Houston Texans' best opportunities in daunting Jags matchup

TEXANS ON TAP

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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The Astros beat the Brewers, 9-1. Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images.

Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.

Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.

The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.

Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.

Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.

The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.

Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.

Key moment

The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.

The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.

Key stat

Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.

Up next

The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.

The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.

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