TEXANS ON TAP
Statement made: How Texans reignite more than playoff aspirations against rival Titans
Dec 18, 2023, 6:25 pm
How Texans reignite MORE than playoff aspirations against RIVAL Titans | Texans on Tap Ep. #27
With their season hanging in the balance, the Houston Texans headed to Nashville to take on the Tennessee Titans with backup quarterback Case Keenum filling in for the injured CJ Stroud.
To add even more motivation, Tennessee broke out the Houston Oilers throwback jerseys to try to add insult to injury. But the Texans came away victorious in overtime thanks to a stout defense, an explosive running game, and several clutch field goals.
By securing this victory, the Texans are now back in the playoff hunt with the Jaguars, Colts, and Texans all sitting at 8-6 on the season with 3 games left to play.
Even without defensive star Will Anderson (ankle) on Sunday, the Texans were able to shut down Derrick Henry and the Titans running game that has given Houston fits over the last few years.
And it appears the Texans have finally realized that Devin Singletary is their best option at running back, as he led the team in touches by a large margin, and helped Houston win in overtime with a huge catch and run to put them in field goal position.
Jonathan Greenard recorded 2 more sacks this week, and while that's great in its own right, the timing of his big plays were just as important. One of his sacks led to a punt, and another one of his big plays involved hitting Will Levis' throwing arm, causing the Titans to lose 19 yards and settle for a field goal.
Finally, Ka'imi Fairbairn's return from IR couldn't have come at a better time. He made 4 field goals on Sunday, including the game-winner in overtime.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss the huge win, our players of the game, and much more.
Watch and subscribe to Texans on Tap (a Texans podcast) on SportsMapTexans via YouTube.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
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.