TEXANS PRESEASON

11 observations from the Texans' 26-7 win over the Packers

11 observations from the Texans' 26-7 win over the Packers
The Texans won their first preseason game, 26-7. Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans earn a win in Green Bay as plenty of positives jumped off the screen.

1. Despite the depth at tackles being depleted, Tyrod Taylor took care of his work in his brief appearance. The team's top quarterback was perfect on the evening hitting Chris Conley for two of his three completions. The drive stalled out and led to a field goal, but Taylor looked solid in his little bit of work.

2. Chris Conley continued his strong preseason with a handful of catches. The four snags netted him 51 yards. It will be interesting to see if Conley gets on the field with Brandin Cooks and Keke Coutee in the preseason or if that look is reserved for the regular season.

3. Davis Mills got plenty of action as he took over for Tyrod Taylor after Taylor's lone series. The results were mixed from the rookie quarterback. Mills' best toss of the night saw him find Keke Coutee on a nice strike.

4. Mills blew a few easy throws and tossed a red zone interception. Mistakes are to be expected but basically throwing a groundball on a screen and going too high on some easy tosses need to be cleaned up faster than other tosses.

5. Second-year player Jonathan Greenard forced a fumble as he dispatched the Packers offensive lineman and knocked the ball loose from Jordan Love's hand. Greenard would leave the game with what head coach David Culley called an ankle sprain.

6. Wide receiver Anthony Miller has a shoulder injury. He left the game on a cart. Miller has had a nice camp and hopefully isn't out too long.

7. Vincent Taylor continued his success on the practice field in this game. Taylor is a load for defenders but knifes through offensive lines with surprising quickness. Taylor was in on more than a few plays including almost sacking Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

8. Camp standout Roy Lopez did get a sack. Lopez earned it but DeMarcus Walker helped force it. There wasn't a tremendous amount of pressure from the defensive line, but the line was much more solid against the run.

9. Rookie tight end Brevin Jordan had a few nice plays. Jordan also had a drop as well, which is something that has popped up in camp a few times. Jordan should be trusted in the receiving game ahead of every tight end besides Pharoah Brown and Jordan Akins.

10. The linebackers, led by Kamu Grugier-Hill, had a solid night chasing the ball and stuffing the Packers in the running game. Green Bay rushed for just three yards in the first half.

11. Overall, a solid night for the Texans without many gaping holes. Not many, if any, Packers starters played significant snaps. The Texans had a fair amount of their own players set to be starters sitting as well. Preseason game two should see a few more expected starters on the field.

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

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.

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