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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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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