Silver linings: How struggles against Colts reveal true strength of Texans offense
GAME ON!
18 September 2023
The Houston Texans home opener against the Colts didn't go exactly liked we hoped, with the team falling behind early and eventually losing, 31-20.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans and his defense had no answers for the Colts offense, even after Indy was forced to go to their backup QB Gardner Minshew, after Anthony Richardson suffered a concussion.
While there's plenty of time to get things on track, there's no arguing that Lovie Smith's Texans defense last season, got off to a much better start, limiting the Colts to 20 points, and the Broncos to 16 points. DeMeco's new-look defense gave up 25 to the Ravens, and 31 to the Colts.
Last year's team also managed to avoid an 0-2 start, tying the Colts 20-20 in Week 1.
However, the Texans passing offense showed a lot of potential, with CJ Stroud throwing for 384 yards and 2 TDs. Houston had three different receivers record over 70 yards, with Nico Collins leading the way with 7 catches for 146 yards.
No matter how determined OC Bobby Slowik was to establish the run on Sunday, it just didn't happen. Dameon Pierce led the team in rushing with 31 yards on 15 carries. And with a WHOPPING 4 backups starting on the offensive line, Slowik would have been better off ditching the ground game sooner. Especially with the team trailing by multiple scores for most of the game.
The coaching has to be the biggest area of concern moving forward, but CJ Stroud provided a silver lining Houston fans should be excited about. It's early, but it looks like the Texans found themselves a QB, and potentially, a high-powered offense to root for on Sundays.
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Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
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.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
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.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
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.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
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.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
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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