TEXANS REACTION
11 observations from Houston Texans 20-20 tie with Colts
Sep 11, 2022, 6:04 pm
Texans QB Davis Mills had an uneven performance. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
The Houston Texans let one slip away, but it wasn’t all the way as they settle for a tie with the Indianapolis Colts in the season opener. Here are 11 observations about the season opener.
1. The Texans really let this one get away. After scoring to go up 20-3 the team wouldn’t score again and would amass very little offense. A back-breaking turnover severely injured their chances of winning as well. Yes, it ended in a tie, but any semblance of life from the offense might have avoided that scenario altogether.
2. Lovie Smith said after the game the Texans decided on a tie. Smith said a tie was better than a loss and he didn’t like the way his defense had been playing. I didn’t either, but the setup to get to the questionable fourth-down decision was a tough one.
3. Rex Burkhead probably shouldn’t be featured this much. Yes, I understand he can pass block but there isn’t much left in the rushing tank. This was his second-highest touches in a game while with the Texans at 19. Burkhead touching the ball 19 times isn’t a recipe for success. Lovie Smith’s explanation of why Burkhead was used so much left a lot to be desired. He didn’t specifically address why the veteran running back, who he deemed the passing down back, was in the game on third down with one yard to gain in overtime.
4. Davis Mills missed a few too many passes. Mills sailed a few and notably made a poor throw on third down to Chris Conley early. He got a little shaky in the pocket in the fourth quarter and overtime led to some iffy output. As Mills looks at the film there is plenty he might want back.
5. The offensive line was below average overall. There was a bone-crushing sack that resulted in a turnover. Tytus Howard was put in a blender late and beat to give up a sack. Justin Britt regularly failed to make his assignment. Justin McCray and Kenyon Green rotated at left guard. It must be better up front.
6. Jerry Hughes looks like he has plenty left in the tank. The 13-year veteran had an interception, two sacks, and a pass deflection. He was a camp surprise, and keeping the veteran fresh for the whole year is a key to this defense.
7. The linebackers got eaten alive later in the game. Matt Ryan and the Colts offense hit them with plenty of zone-breaking passes and Jonathan Taylor got rolling late. Taylor averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the second half. Lovie Smith said his defense was gassed at the end, and it showed. That is also what contributed to the team’s decision to play for the punt.
8. Derek Stingley had a bit of a rough first quarter, but he showed up late in the game. The third overall pick got sticky on Colts wideout Alec Pierce and batted down a play that would have been a score. Stingley has plenty to grow on, but the team used him a lot in off and zone coverages. I would be interested in seeing more man coverage.
9. Rookie safety Jalen Pitre had an expected day. The second-round pick was all over the place and in early on with some big tackles for the defense. A late interception looked to go through his hands, and that will keep him up at night. Overall Pitre was solid as a rookie starter.
10. Lovie Smith passed up a 56-yard field goal for Ka'imi Fairbairn in favor of a punt. This was curious as Fairbairn made a 61-yard field goal at home last year. Smith said the expected field goal wasn’t totally in his kicker’s range.
11. This isn’t a loss but it sure feels like one. The Colts played a horrible football game but still clawed their way back into a tie. The Texans collapsed down the stretch allowing for a disappointing non-loss result.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
The Chicago Cubs acquired All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Friday, paying a big price for one of baseball's best hitters.
The Cubs sent third baseman Isaac Paredes, right-hander Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith, one of their top infield prospects, to the Astros for Tucker, who is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season.
Be sure to watch the video below as the crew from Stone Cold 'Stros reacts to the trade and lays out what the future holds for the new-look Astros.
Tucker was limited to 78 games this year because of a fractured right shin, but he hit .289 with 23 homers and 49 RBIs for the AL West champions. He batted .284 with 29 homers, an AL-best 112 RBIs and 30 steals for Houston in 2023.
Tucker, who turns 28 on Jan. 17, joins a crowded situation in Chicago's outfield, but the Cubs are reportedly looking to trade Cody Bellinger, who also can play first base. They also have talked to Seiya Suzuki's agent about the outfielder's no-trade clause.
The Cubs have finished second in the NL Central with an 83-79 record in each of the past two years, and there is increased pressure on president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to get the team back into the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
The Cubs announced later in the day that they had agreed to an $11.5 million, two-year contract with catcher Carson Kelly, a Chicago native. He played for Detroit and Texas this year, batting .238 with nine homers and 37 RBIs in 91 games.
The New York Yankees also were in the mix for Tucker before the trade was completed.
“We certainly had many conversations with the Astros.” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “At the end of the day I’m glad that Mr. Tucker is not in the American League East or the American League at all. But it’s a big get for the Chicago Cubs.”
Paredes is an option for Houston at third base if Alex Bregman departs in free agency. The 25-year-old Paredes hit .238 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs in 153 games this year. He made the AL All-Star team with Tampa Bay and then was traded to Chicago in July.
Paredes, who bats from the right side and is known for his pull power, chuckled as he talked about taking aim at the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park.
“I feel very happy. It's not only a beautiful stadium, but it's a stadium that benefits my hitting,” he said through a translator.
Even with the acquisition of Paredes, who also can play first, Astros general manager Dana Brown did not close the door on a reunion with Bregman.
“Pretty much Alex Bregman's status is still the way it is,” Brown said. “Nothing has changed since the last time I've talked to you guys.”
Wesneski, a Houston native who played college ball for Sam Houston State, will compete for a spot in the Astros’ rotation.
The right-hander, who turned 27 on Dec. 5, went 3-6 with a 3.86 ERA over 21 relief appearances and seven starts this year. He was on the injured list from July 20 to Sept. 20 with a right forearm strain.
“It’s just a dream-come-true kind of thing,” Wesneski said. “I am excited to be an Astro.”
Houston is hoping the addition of Paredes and Wesneski will help the team continue its impressive run as one of baseball's best teams. It has made the playoffs for eight straight years, winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022. It was swept by Detroit in the wild-card round this year.
“Look, make no mistake. We're still going to compete,” Brown said, “and this is probably one of those moves that I think in the future people will see and understand like, yeah, wow, I understand it now, I get it. ... I would say that this is more to strengthen our opportunities down the road without losing any footage in the current year.”
While Paredes and Wesneski could have an immediate impact, Smith also was a key component of the deal.
Smith, 21, was selected by Chicago with the No. 14 pick in this year's draft out of Florida State University. He hit .313 with seven homers and 24 RBIs in 32 games over three minor league stops, finishing the year with Double-A Knoxville.
“It's a really good first-round college bat with power, with a chance to hit, and he's pretty athletic as well,” Brown said. “So we're really excited about Cam Smith.”
Tucker was Houston's first-round pick in 2015, taken No. 5 overall. He made his big league debut with the Astros in 2018.
Tucker had a breakout performance three years after his debut, hitting a career-best .294 with 30 homers and 92 RBIs in 140 games in 2021. He won a Gold Glove the following year.
The Tampa, Florida, native is a .274 hitter with 125 homers, 417 RBIs and an .869 OPS in 633 career games — all with Houston. He also has appeared in 64 postseason games, batting .229 with eight homers and 28 RBIs.
Kelly gets $5 million in each of the next two seasons, and his deal with Chicago includes a $7.5 million mutual option for 2027 with a $1.5 million buyout. He can earn $500,000 in performance bonuses during each of the three seasons; $250,000 each for 81 and 91 games started.
The Cubs were in need of more depth behind the plate. They also have Miguel Amaya, who played in a career-high 117 games this year, and Matt Thaiss, who was acquired in a trade with the Angels on Nov. 20.