How Houston Texans can let CJ Stroud cook without getting burned

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CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans passing game has been a pleasant surprise after 5 weeks into the 2023 season. Stroud is currently third in the NFL in passing yards, and looks impressive on a weekly basis.

However, the running game has been a constant issue this season, with the team unable to move the ball efficiently on the ground. Considering the team's success with the passing game, should the team abandon their self-proclaimed run-first mentality and let Stroud “cook” through the air?

Also, with so much money spent on the offensive line, why can't the Texans run the ball with any success? Do we need to be patient, and let the linemen returning from injury develop chemistry? Are the running backs capitalizing on the blocking in front of them?

Head coach DeMeco Ryans said at his Monday presser that he thinks the o-line did a great job of run blocking against Atlanta. But it didn't look like there was much room to run, and several running plays were blown up in the backfield, even when running sweep plays to Tank Dell.

So how should the Texans proceed?

Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down!

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Presented by Coors Light.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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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