How Houston Texans can exploit clear advantage over suffocating Saints
TEXANS ON TAP
10 October 2023
The Houston Texans are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and things won't get easier with the New Orleans Saints and their tenacious defense coming to NRG.
While the Saints have the advantage on defense – ranking 4th in points and yards allowed – the Texans have the edge on offense with CJ Stroud 3rd in the NFL in passing yards.
Saints QB Derek Carr may not strike fear in the hearts of Texans fans, but he does have an assortment of weapons to distribute the ball to with Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and running back Alvin Kamara.
For the Texans, WR Tank Dell is currently in the concussion protocol, so it's unlikely he'll be available this week, as most players this season have not returned from a concussion the following game.
The Texans will once again look to get their ground game going this week, and hopefully the team will see a boost from Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard in their second week back in action from injury. The offense needs Nico Collins to have another big game catching passes from Stroud, after a quiet performance against Atlanta.
The Saints are currently 2.5 point favorites on the road, which seems about right in this matchup. We believe this will be a low scoring game in which the Texans could be challenged to score points.
Be sure to watch the video above for our early preview and predictions for the game.
Watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) on our SportsMap Texans YouTube channel every Monday.
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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