REALLY?
How latest Houston Texans disrespect might be the most egregious
Jan 19, 2024, 3:16 pm
Baker Mayfield over CJ Stroud? Composite Getty Image.
cj-meek
The last two weeks have been a coming out party for the Houston Texans and their startling rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.
First they went into Indianapolis and defeated the Colts, 23-19, in a do-or-die game with the post-season at stake. The Texans victory flipped the switch from earlier in the season when the Colts came to Houston and beat the Texans 31-20. This time, Stroud, growing stronger and more confident by the week, went 20-26 for 264 yards and two touchdowns and the Texans were suddenly, improbably, logic defyingly in the playoffs.
Last week in the wild card round, the Cleveland Browns entered the game a solid 3-point road favorite only to get demolished, 45-14 by Stroud and the Texans in a final score that really wasn’t that close. Again the Texans exacted revenge for an earlier loss against the Browns. Stroud merely went 16-21 for 274 yards and three touchdowns in a hospital-grade surgical performance.
Still it seems that some football analysts didn’t get their invitation to the Texans party. Doubters may say, sure Stroud is putting up numbers, but look who he’s been up against? Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew was a barely average journeyman, a stop gap at best. Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was a croaky quarterback whose dream bubble was going to burst at some point.
Maybe this is why ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky doesn’t have Stroud on his Top Five List of Scariest Quarterbacks Remaining.
1. Lamar Jackson
2. Josh Allen
3. Patrick Mahomes
4. Baker Mayfield
5. Jordan Love
Remember, there are only eight teams left in the Super Bowl running. Stroud doesn’t crack Orlovsky’s Top 5?
Here are the Vegas odds to win the Super Bowl.
1. San Francisco 49ers.
2. Baltimore Ravens.
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Detroit Lions
6. Green Bay Packers
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Houston Texans.
Again, only eight teams are left in the Super Bowl hunt.
What will the doubters say if the Texans go into M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday and leave with a win to reach the AFC Conference Championship game? That would be unchartered waters for the Texans.
And what if Stroud outplays Jackson, who appears a lock to win his second MVP? Jackson isn’t a seat filler or creaky veteran living on a prayer. Jackson is a historically great quarterback in the full bloom of his prime.
The Texans are 9.5-point underdogs against Baltimore, the longest odds on the board. I get it, it would be a shocker if the Texans win and Stroud puts up his typically, ridiculously efficient numbers against the Ravens defense.
I’m not betting against them.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.