How compounding reality of Texans situation isn’t being talked about enough

Buckle up

The Houston Texans came up short against the Ravens in their opening game of the season. DeMeco and company had a tough challenge in front of them, with so many injuries to the offensive line and the defense.

Which makes us wonder, how much can we really judge the team with so many players injured or added to the team right before Week 1?

Houston went into the game missing 3 of their 5 starting offensive lineman, and starting safety Jimmy Ward was inactive as well. Not to mention their other starting safety Jalen Pitre left the game just before halftime.

Plus, the team's usage of Dameon Pierce in the running game was puzzling. They kept taking him off the field on third down, and only gave him 13 total touches in the game.

You would think the Texans want their best weapon on the field and able to run or catch passes on third down, but that wasn't the case on Sunday.

Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the challenges listed above for the Texans, and how they can get Pierce more involved in the offense to take some pressure off CJ Stroud.

If you enjoy the videos, be sure to subscribe on YouTube.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 3-0. Composite Getty Image.

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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