These critical adjustments led to Houston Texans offensive explosion, dramatic comeback win

TEXANS ON TAP

The Houston Texans took a major step forward as a franchise on Sunday when rookie quarterback CJ Stroud led a game-winning touchdown drive against the Buccaneers with 46 seconds left on the clock.

Stroud and the Texans secured the win pushing their record to 4-4 on the season. In the process CJ Stroud broke so many records that we can't possibly cover them all here, but Adam Schefter listed several in a post on X.

It's a new day for the Texans and their fan base. Games like this typically end in heartbreak for Houston fans, but not this time! And the future looks bright for the Texans as they have their franchise QB, and a terrific head coach in DeMeco Ryans.

The timing couldn't have been better, too, with it appearing that Stroud looks like the best QB in the draft class. While the Texans did lose to the Panthers last week, Stroud bounced back in a big way against the Bucs.

CJ said all week leading up to the game against Tampa Bay that the offense needed to be more aggressive. It's safe to say Stroud backed up his comments with a historic performance.

And on that same day Bryce Young threw 3 total interceptions, 2 were returned for touchdowns, while losing to the Colts and slipping to 1-7 on the season.

It's also an interesting coincidence that the Cowboys needed a touchdown with 46 seconds left in the game against the Eagles and weren't able to close the deal.

Plus, Stroud was so impressive this week, former players like Richard Sherman and Robert Griffin III are labeling Stroud as a Top 10 QB in the NFL.

Stroud is also an overwhelming favorite now to win Offensive Rookie of the Year at -500 after his incredible performance on Sunday.

So how good can this Texans offense be?

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

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The Astros are cooking! Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the Philadelphia Phillies. They sent a message.

In three tightly contested games against one of the best teams in baseball, the Astros leaned on their elite pitching and timely offense to secure a statement sweep. Hunter Brown was electric in the finale, shutting down the Phillies’ lineup and showing the kind of dominance that’s become a defining feature of his game. Bryan Abreu slammed the door with four strikeouts to close out the win, and rookie Cam Smith delivered the deciding blow — an RBI single in the eighth to drive in Isaac Paredes, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory.

It wasn’t a series filled with offensive fireworks, but that’s exactly the point. Both teams sent out top-tier pitching throughout the series, and Houston was the team that kept finding a way. For much of the season, the Astros’ inconsistent offense might’ve been a concern in a series like this. But this time, it felt different. The bats showed up just enough, and the pitching did the rest.

Now, with Houston on pace for 96 wins at the halfway point, the question becomes: Is the league officially on notice?

Maybe. Maybe not. But one thing is certain, the Astros have the third-best record in baseball, they’re 17-7 in one-run games, and they’re playing with the kind of rhythm that’s defined their near-decade of dominance. Unlike last year’s uneven campaign, this version of the Astros looks like a team that’s rediscovered its edge. Whether or not they need to take care of business against the Cubs to validate it, their recent run leaves little doubt: when Houston is clicking, there are very few teams built to stop them.

Off the field, however, a bit of long-term uncertainty is starting to creep in. Reports surfaced this week that extension talks with shortstop Jeremy Peña have been put on hold as he recently signed with super-agent Scott Boras. The combination has led many to wonder if Peña might follow the same free-agent path as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and others before him. Boras clients rarely settle early, and Peña, now one of the most valuable shortstops in the game, could command a price tag the Astros have historically avoided paying.

If Peña and even Hunter Brown are likely to get priced out of Houston, the front office may need to pivot. Isaac Paredes could be the most logical extension candidate on the roster. His approach — particularly his ability to pull the ball with authority — is tailor-made for Daikin Park and the Crawford Boxes. Last year, Paredes struggled to leave the yard at Wrigley Field, but in Houston, he’s thriving. Locking him in long term would give the Astros offensive stability and the kind of value they’ve typically targeted.

As for Cam Smith, the breakout rookie is far from free agency and will remain a cost-controlled piece for years. That’s exactly why his contributions now, like his clutch eighth-inning knock to beat Philadelphia, matter so much. He's one more reason why the Astros don’t just look good right now. They look dangerous.

And the rest of the league is starting to feel it.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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