How Texans, CJ Stroud find themselves in rare air after hammering Steelers
TEXANS ON TAP
02 October 2023
The Houston Texans were coming off a big win against the Jags last week, with the Steelers coming to NRG on the same day JJ Watt was being inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans wanted to make sure that his team didn't allow the Steelers to come into the Texans' house and have their way. Houston hadn't won a home game since 2021, so this was the perfect opportunity to prove this season is different.
With a newly shuffled offensive line, CJ Stroud and the Texans dominated Pittsburgh from jump street, scoring three times on the first drive, with penalties taking the first two scores off the board. Immediately, this felt like a new and improved Texans team that wasn't going to settle for field goals.
In the end, the Steelers never really had a chance, losing the game 30-6. Stroud built on his streak of completions without throwing an interception once again. He also made history, passing for 1,212 yards in his first four games. Only Cam Newton passed for more yards than Stroud with 1,386 over his first four games.
The progress we're seeing from the Texans' new QB is something special to behold. Behind an offensive line full of backups, Stroud has come away with 2 victories, no interceptions, and no sacks over the last two weeks.
NBA superstar LeBron James even posted about Stroud's accomplishments on social media over the weekend.
pic.twitter.com/Ml6yj1Hi1S
— Rex (@Rexwell14) October 2, 2023
And the news gets even better. The Texans are likely to get several offensive linemen back off the IR this week, with Tytus Howard and Juice Scruggs expected to return to action.
The future looks bright
One thing is for sure, the Texans have the best rookie QB in the league right now. And don't be surprised if he outplays all the QBs that face the Texans over the next few weeks. Give us Stroud any day over Desmond Ridder, a beat up Derek Carr, Bryce Young, and Baker Mayfield.
We didn't expect the turnaround to be this quick for Houston, but winning the division appears to be a real possibility with every team sitting at 2-2.
Be sure to watch the video above as we react to the big win on Sunday, look ahead at the Falcons, and much more.
Don't miss our new Texans podcast that drops every Monday on the SportsMap Texans YouTube channel.
Astros show signs of life in blowout win over Brewers
May 7, 2025, 3:25 pm
Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and Jeremy Peña homered and drove in four runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 9-1 on Wednesday.
Houston earned just its second victory in seven games to snap Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak and leave both teams with .500 records. The Brewers were attempting to sweep a series from the Astros for the first time since 2012.
The Astros led 3-1 before Peña broke the game open by delivering a three-run homer to left off reliever Elvin Rodriguez with two outs in the sixth inning.
JP3-run bomb. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/En0XXWdlt0
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Valdez (2-4) struck out seven while allowing three hits, two walks and one run to earn his first win since the Astros’ March 27 season opener. He threw a season-high 101 pitches.
The Framchise is all business.#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/J8EGGDk5gl
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
Milwaukee’s only run off Valdez came on Eric Haase’s fifth-inning homer, a 425-foot drive to center.
The Astros took a 1-0 lead off Quinn Priester (1-1) in the second inning as Jake Meyers hit a two-out single and scored on Zach Dezenzo’s double.
RBI double for Zach gets us on the board early! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/AilCY27A9d
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The Brewers have lost all 13 games this season in which their opponent scored first.
Five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader worked the ninth while pitching in Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers traded him in 2022.
Key moment
The Astros led 1-0 and had runners on third and second with one out in the fifth when Peña hit a bouncer to third.
Safe all day. #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/OVjcvev7cM
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 7, 2025
The throw home beat Dezenzo to the plate. Home plate umpire Chris Conroy initially ruled Dezenzo out, but the Astros challenged the call and replays showed the runner slid home ahead of Haase’s tag.
Key stat
Valdez has now pitched at least seven innings an MLB-leading 57 times since 2020.
Up next
The Astros host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. Scheduled pitchers are right-hander Hunter Brown (5-1, 1.67) for the Astros and right-hander Nick Martinez (1-3, 4.19) for the Reds.
The Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Ray on Friday. Left-hander José Quintana (4-1, 2.83) will pitch for the Brewers.
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