How national narrative about Texans just took a most unexpected turn
SAY WHAT?
06 January 2024
As the Texans prepare to play the most important game of the year against the Colts, they're getting a lot of attention from the national media.
Just this week, Colin Cowherd ranked the Texans as one of his Top 10 teams, but he took some heat for not knowing Tank Dell is currently on IR, and that the Texans haven't clinched a playoff spot yet.
Which got us thinking. Is it a sign of disrespect that so many national pundits don't know that much about the team? Or are they not watching Texans games because they haven't played in prime time all season?
In Cowherd's case, it doesn't look like disrespect, after all he ranked them 9th in front of the Dolphins in his Top 10. It's more likely that most of his knowledge about Houston comes from highlights and the Red Zone Channel.
And if most of the national media is like Cowherd, winning in prime time this Saturday night will go a long way in earning respect outside of Houston.
Plus, while the Texans-Titans game was well attended, there were still some empty seats at NRG. If the Texans make the playoffs, should we expect fans to pack the stadium next season, and go back to the glory days when there was a waiting list for season tickets?
Don't miss the video above for the full discussion.
And subscribe to SportsMapTexans on YouTube if you like the videos and want to support the channel.
Zack Short hits an RBI single in 11th inning to lift Astros over Rangers
Jul 13, 2025, 12:05 am
Zack Short hit a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning after Christian Walker tied it with a sacrifice fly and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Saturday night.
Short hit a 1-1 pitch to right field off Hoby Milner after Robert Garcia (1-5) walked two to load the bases.
Texas took a 4-3 lead when Adolis García hit the first pitch from Bennett Sousa (3-0) for a single — scoring automatic runner Marcus Semien.
Kyle Higashioka hit a solo home run off Josh Hader with two outs in the ninth to tie it 3-3. It was the first blown save for Hader after 25 straight to begin the season.
Jose Altuve hit his 17th homer — a two-out solo shot in the first off Jacob deGrom to tie it 1-1 after the Rangers scored an unearned run on Framber Valdez’s wild pitch.
Yainer Diaz homered for the 14th time for a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Mauricio Dubón hit his sixth homer off Jacob Webb for a 3-1 lead in the seventh.
Semien hit his 11th homer to cut it to 3-2 in the eighth.
Valdez allowed an unearned run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks in six innings. The Astros have won his last 12 starts with him getting the win in nine of them.
DeGrom allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in six innings with eight strikeouts.
The Rangers struck out 19 times — two short of the club record for an extra-inning game.
Key moment
Short entered as a pinch runner in the ninth and was just 4 for 17 before his game winner.
Key stat
Houston hasn’t lost a season series with division rival Texas since 2016.
Up next
Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-3, 1.62 ERA) starts Sunday’s rubber game opposite Astros RHP Hunter Brown (9-3, 2.21).
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