How Colin Cowherd just can't help himself in latest hot button Texans take
REALLY?
01 March 2024
The NFL Combine is in full swing and as we await what the Houston Texans will do in free agency, now is a good time to examine some predictions for the upcoming season.
FS1's Colin Cowherd put out his way-too-early predictions for the 2024 playoff picture, and guess which team did not make the list. That's right, Cowherd has the Texans missing the postseason with the Colts winning the division and the Jaguars winning a wild card spot.
So how did he come to this conclusion. Colin makes the case that six new teams make the postseason every year, so he has to take some teams out that made the playoffs the prior season. Two of those teams in the AFC are the Dolphins and Texans.
He believes the Colts will have a strong season behind QB Anthony Richardson, who is coming off shoulder surgery. He makes the case that they only came one game short last year with backup Gardner Minshew taking the snaps. So with their starting QB back in the mix and a ton of salary cap space, the Colts will take the division.
As for the Jaguars, he thinks they struggled down the stretch because of nagging injuries that slowed down QB Trevor Lawrence. With him fully healthy, Colin has them back in the playoffs, with Houston watching from home.
And of course, strength of schedule. This has to be his strongest point, as the Texans play a first place schedule that appears pretty daunting.
When comparing the Texans opponents to the Colts, three games really stick out. The Texans play the Chiefs, Cowboys, and Ravens. While the Colts get the Broncos, Giants, and Steelers. There's no doubt the Colts have the advantage in those matchups.
Counterpoint
Cowherd makes a point of saying most of his picks are quarterback driven. Yet, he has the best QB in the AFC South missing the playoffs.
Also, Houston is right behind the Colts in cap space, so there's really not much of an advantage there. He also believes things will be different now that the league has tape on Stroud. I would argue there was a ton of tape on Stroud before playing the Browns in the playoffs. Cleveland's defense surrendered the least amount of yards in the entire league last year, and Stroud and the Texans won 45-14.
Finally, Vegas does not agree with his take. Houston has the 6th-best odds to win the AFC. The only other team in the division that cracked the Top 10 was Jacksonville, who came in with the 9th best odds.
Be sure to watch the video above for the full discussion!
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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