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Silver linings: How struggles against Colts reveal true strength of Texans offense
Sep 18, 2023, 3:56 pm
Silver-linings: struggles against Colts reveal true strength of Texans offense | Texans On Tap EP #3
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.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion!
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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.