Houston Texans playoff dreams now hang in balance of heated rival rematch
TEXANS ON TAP
27 December 2023
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.
Mauricio Dubón scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the 10th inning, Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes opened the game with home runs, and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday night.
Peña led off the 10th with a single that advanced automatic runner Dubón to third. Dubón scored when Hunter Strickland, who hadn’t allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings of his first 13 appearances with the Angels, threw a pitch behind the back of Paredes.
Houston closer Josh Hader (5-1) retired the side in order in the ninth and Bennett Sousa retired three straight batters in the 10th for his second save.
Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi gave up home runs to Pena and Paredes for a 2-0 Astros lead in the held the Astros to four hits, striking out nine and walking none, for the rest of his seven-inning start.
Jo Adell trimmed Houston’s lead to 2-1 in the fourth with a 426-foot homer off Astros starter Hunter Brown. Angels rookie Christian Moore, a first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2024, tied it 2-2 with his first major league homer to open the seventh.
Tempers flared in the third when Brown hit Angels shortstop Zach Neto in the elbow with a 95-mph sinker. Both benches and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown, and order was quickly restored.
Key Moment
Astros center fielder Jake Meyers raced to the gap in left-center to make a spectacular, full-extension diving catch of Adell’s drive with a runner on first base and one out in the bottom of the eighth to preserve a 2-2 tie.
Key Stat
The home runs by Peña and Paredes marked the first time in three years the Astros have opened a game with two homers. Jose Altuve and Peña last accomplished the feat on July 24, 2022 at Seattle.
Up Next
Astros LHP Brandon Walter (0-0, 1.53 ERA) opposes Angels RHP José Soriano (4-5, 3.54) on Saturday night.
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