Houston Texans playoff dreams now hang in balance of heated rival rematch
TEXANS ON TAP
27 December 2023
TEXANS ON TAP
Despite the Houston Texans getting annihilated by the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, there are some positives to consider as they prepare to host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
CJ Stroud appears likely to return after missing the two previous games with a concussion, and the team still has a shot to make the playoffs if they can win their next two matchups.
#Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose symptoms of sensitivity to light and loud noises have subsided, per sources, expected to practice today. He attended meetings last Friday and teammates expressed optimism Sunday about him potentially returning this week against #Titans
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 27, 2023
The Texans put the clamps down on Derrick Henry and the Titans run game just two weeks ago, so DeMeco and company will look to have that type of performance once again.
It's a little early to tell if Will Levis will return to play this week after injuring his ankle, so it could be Ryan Tannehill taking snaps again this week for the Titans.
Tannehill failed to reach 200 passing yards against the Seahawks this past week, so you have to like the Texans chances, especially if Stroud returns.
Be sure to watch the video above for our early preview of Texans-Titans.
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.
The home run by Peraza.
It’s the fifth time the Astros have been shut out this month.
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.