These critical matchups take center stage in Texans-Titans must-win showdown
THE STAKES ARE HIGH!
13 December 2023
THE STAKES ARE HIGH!
With just four games remaining in the season, the Houston Texans head to Nashville to play a must-win game against the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans are coming off a big upset victory over the Miami Dolphins, and the Texans are fresh off an embarrassing loss to the New York Jets.
Making matters worse, CJ Stroud is in concussion protocol, which will likely force Davis Mills or Case Keenum to make the start for the Texans.
With that in mind, which backup quarterback should the Texans trust the most?
Davis Mills has played more football over the last couple of seasons, but on the other hand, Keenum has experienced more success over the course of his career.
And Keenum is more familiar with the Shanahan-style offense, having played for Gary Kubiak in the past.
But Mills is number two on the depth chart, so he appears to be the starter should Stroud be ruled out for the game.
Which makes us wonder, should he be replaced by Keenum if he's not playing well against the Titans?
It's not like it would create a QB controversy as both Keenum and Mills are backups, and winning this game could greatly impact the team's playoff hopes.
Plus, DeAndre Hopkins is coming off a huge performance on Monday night, helping his team to upset the Dolphins. Will Texans corner Derek Stingley be able to keep D-Hop in check?
Be sure to watch the video above as we break it all down.
Subscribe to SportsMapTexans on YouTube for all of our Texans coverage.
This week started on a positive note for Astros fans as they witnessed Lance McCullers take the mound for the first time since 2022. The right-hander needed just 13 pitches to complete his inning of work, showing signs of the form that made him a key piece of Houston’s rotation. If he continues progressing without setbacks, it wouldn’t be surprising to see McCullers back with the big-league club by the end of April or early May.
However, the news isn't as encouraging for Luis Garcia, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Originally scheduled to throw live batting practice on Thursday, Garcia is now facing a delay due to elbow soreness. Multiple reports indicate that he will be evaluated by team doctors, adding another layer of uncertainty to his rehab process.
Garcia’s recovery has been anything but smooth. According to Chandler Rome, the expectation was that Garcia would return before McCullers, but complications have forced the Astros to slow his rehab down. If Garcia is shut down for several weeks, even in a best-case scenario, it’s unlikely he will be able to contribute over the next three months. The Astros will need to be cautious with his recovery, as the last thing they want is for him to require another surgery.
Fortunately for Houston, neither McCullers nor Garcia were expected to start the season in the rotation. However, their returns were seen as potential boosts to the pitching staff later in the year. This also serves as a reminder that Tommy John recoveries can take longer than the typical 12 to 18 months. That reality makes it difficult to count on Cristian Javier, who underwent the procedure last June, to make an impact in 2025.
Altuve’s transition to left field raises concerns
Jose Altuve had been making steady progress adjusting to left field in spring training. However, after a couple of dropped fly balls, some fans are questioning whether the experiment should continue. The errors occurred as Altuve tried to rush his throws to prevent runners from tagging up. Without the pressure of making a quick throw, he likely would have secured both catches.
Despite these struggles, Altuve has shown good range, making solid plays on balls hit into the left-center gap. His transition may take time, and the key will be ensuring these mistakes don’t get into his head. Altuve has battled confidence issues before, particularly in 2020 when he struggled with throwing to first base. He overcame those challenges, and if he stays focused, he should be fine in left field.
Cam Smith making strong case for Opening Day roster
Heading into spring training, it seemed unlikely that rookie phenom Cam Smith would break camp with the big-league team. The expectation was that Chas McCormick would get the first shot in right field. However, Smith’s scorching performance this spring may force the Astros’ hand. He’s hitting .419 with a team-leading four home runs, 11 RBIs, and a staggering .871 slugging percentage with a 1.371 OPS.
McCormick, to his credit, has been disciplined at the plate, drawing 11 walks and posting a .415 on-base percentage. However, his power numbers have been underwhelming, with a mere .179 slugging percentage and just one extra-base hit.
Given Smith’s explosive bat, the Astros may have no choice but to give him an opportunity to prove himself at the major-league level. If he struggles, they can always send him down to the minors for further development. But at this point, Smith’s performance is too good to ignore as Opening Day approaches.
We have so much more to cover. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The countdown to Opening Day is on. 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. Click here to catch!
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!
https://houston.sportsmap.com/advertise
ChatGPT assisted.