How Colin Cowherd just can't help himself in latest hot button Texans take
REALLY?
01 March 2024
REALLY?
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!
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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