How short-handed Texans can keep vibes high against struggling Patriots
TEXANS ON TAP
10 October 2024
The Texans and Patriots square off this Sunday. Composite Getty Image.
The Houston Texans head to Foxborough this weekend to take on the 1-4 New England Patriots. The Pats will have a different look this week, with rookie QB Drake Maye making his first NFL regular season start.
The Texans also come into this matchup with some changes in place, as superstar receiver Nico Collins is on the injured list with a hamstring injury.
Receivers Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell will need to pick up the slack with Collins sidelined. Diggs will have his work cut out for him though against New England's standout corner Christian Gonzalez.
Diggs may be able to escape Gonzalez when moved into the slot, but it's hard to know how both teams will choose to match up this week. Will Diggs play more on the outside with Collins out of the equation? Will Gonzalez shadow Diggs all over the field? Gonzalez had success pressing Dolphins all-world receiver Tyreek Hill last week, and recorded 1 interception and 2 forced incompletions.
Per PFF, Pats corner Marcus Jones was actually the highest-graded Patriots player last week against Miami, so this team has some talent in the secondary.
The big question for the Texans passing game comes down to Dell's usage. Even with Collins out for most of last week's game, Dell only received four targets and played on 68% of the snaps.
Houston receiver Xavier Hutchinson actually out-snapped Dell, playing on 71% of the snaps, but with one less target.
Texans OC Bobby Slowik likes having bigger receivers on the field to help block in the running game. So we should learn a lot this week about how Slowik will deploy his weapons with Collins injured.
Speaking of the running game, both Dameon Pierce (full) and Joe Mixon (limited) returned to practice this week. It would be huge for the offense to get those guys back, to say the least.
Slowik should also be prepared to get the tight ends more involved, to take advantages of mismatches. The Texans brought back tight end Teagan Quitoriano this week. If he's active, perhaps we see him used for pass and run blocking, with Dalton Schultz lining up in the slot from time to time.
Bulls on Parade!
On defense, the Texans should have success against a rookie quarterback in his first start, especially after seeing what they did to Josh Allen last week.
Both Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter played well against the Bills receivers. But Lassiter is dealing with a shoulder injury that may prevent him from getting on the field. He didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Houston #Texans Thursday Injury Report for Week 6 at the New England Patriots: pic.twitter.com/pv9F3yZXnO
— Houston Texans PR (@TexansPR) October 10, 2024
Fortunately for Houston, the Patriots don't have a ton of talent at receiver. But with a new quarterback in the fold, anything can happen.
The Texans' ability to pressure Maye with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter should give the team a big advantage. Houston leads the league with a 42% pressure rate.
The Patriots' biggest weapons this season have been running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. Stevenson is dealing with a foot injury and didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday. If he's at all limited or doesn't play, that will work in Houston's favor.
What does Vegas think?
The Texans are favored by 7 points, and the total is set at 38. So don't expect too many points in this contest!
There are so many angles to cover in this matchup. Be sure to watch the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap gets you ready for the big game!
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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