DIVISION CHAMPS
Texans seize AFC South title with Jags' loss to Titans
Jan 8, 2024, 10:46 am
The Texans host the Browns this Saturday at NRG. Composite Getty Image.
The NFL's Coach of the Year
The Houston Texans went from worst to first in just one season.
The Texans, who finished last in the AFC South last season, clinched the division title Sunday when Tennessee beat Jacksonville 28-20 to eliminate the Jaguars from playoff contention.
Houston (10-7) secured its first playoff trip since 2019 with a 23-19 victory at Indianapolis on Saturday night before becoming the division champion on Sunday. It’s the first time the Texans have won the division since 2019 and their seventh AFC South title.
The Texans are the fourth seed in the AFC and will host fifth-seeded Cleveland on Saturday.
The team’s social media accounts posted a picture of first-year coach DeMeco Ryans and several players with the caption: "This is just the beginning. Your AFC South Champions."
Ryans and star rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud orchestrated a remarkable turnaround to put the Texans back in the postseason. The Texans went 3-13-1 last season. Houston won just four games each in 2020 and 2021.
Stroud reposted the team’s post on Instagram and added the caption: "Letsss goooooo!!!!" and rookie defensive end Will Anderson Jr., taken third overall in the draft, also reposted it with the words "We didn’t come this far to come this far!!"
Stroud, the No. 2 pick in the draft, threw for 264 yards Saturday night to give him 4,108 yards passing this season. It’s the third-most yards passing by a rookie in NFL history, trailing only Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336 in 2020).
His strong performance was the biggest reason for the turnaround in Houston. Until drafting Stroud, the Texans had failed to find an answer at quarterback since Deshaun Watson refused to play after requesting a trade. Watson was dealt to Cleveland before last season.
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The comeback Astros fans thought might never happen is finally here
Apr 30, 2025, 2:35 pm
Yainer Diaz run-scoring singles in consecutive innings, rookie Ryan Gusto matched a season high with six strikeouts and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Tuesday night.
The Astros scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings — all with two outs — for a 6-2 lead.
Diaz hit a two-run single that bounced just in front of center fielder Riley Greene, giving Houston its first lead at 3-2 in the sixth. He singled in Isaac Paredes in the seventh.
Yainer gives us the lead!! pic.twitter.com/M1kEy7zD41
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 30, 2025
Yordan Alvarez had an RBI single on a bouncer up the middle in the seventh for a 4-2 lead. Alvarez scored from first when Isaac Paredes hit a shot off the base of the wall in left for his third career triple.
ISAAC TRIPLES HIM HOME!
5-2 Astros! pic.twitter.com/c59ILmMk0M
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 30, 2025
Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer in the ninth to get Detroit within two runs. He was 3 for 5 with three RBIs.
Josh Hader struck out Zach McKinstry to end the game as Houston won for the eighth time in its last nine home games.
Bennett Sousa (1-0) struck out the final two Detroit batters in the fifth, stranding runners at second and third. He had three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
Gusto allowed four hits and two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Jose Altuve hit second in the Astros lineup for the second straight game and went 0 for 4.
Key moment
The Astros did not have a runner in scoring position until there were two outs in the sixth. Then, Christian Walker hit a shot off the wall in left for an RBI double that pulled the Astros within 2-1 and chased starter Reese Olson (3-2).
Key stat
Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games.
Up next
Detroit RHP Jackson Jobe (2-0, 2.70 ERA) will start the final game of the series on Wednesday. Houston has not announced a starter.