The Rockets alternate jersey? Meh. Courtesy photo
This is the best time of the year for sports fans because of the NBA, March Madness, MLB right around the corner, and NFL free agency so instead of focusing on one topic, here are a few things that have me pondering:
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If you have a team falling in the second round of the playoff, why not just pick the upset in the first round? At the end of the day, this is just a numbers game and if you don’t pick at least 3 out of 4 in the Final Four AND the champion, you’re more than likely out. Won’t it be way more fun when you get to brag to your group that you picked South Dakota State over Ohio State?
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The Rockets win streak is over, but my biggest takeaway from that game was how dope the Raptors OVO City Edition jerseys looked. I know I’m nitpicking and it isn’t my money, but the Rockets Chinese City Edition jerseys are such a meh. I wish we had some dope ass unique jerseys like the rest of the NBA, but I guess paying LeBron won’t be cheap so gotta get that money!
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I finally stopped being cheap a bought a decent surround sound system for my sports viewing pleasure and I asked this question on Twitter: What’s the first song you would play on your new system? My pick is Mountains from the Interstellar soundtrack. What is yours? Add to the tweets.
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Hey everyone, just a reminder, TruTV is on DirecTV channel 246, Dish 242, Xfinity 1430, and ATT U-verse 1164. You’re welcome.
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$10 billion. Can you guess why this number is important? No, this isn’t the total amount of Bitcoin bought (or lost) in recent months. This is instead the total dollar amount people will wage, put in a pool, or bet otherwise during March Madness! Oh by the way, only 3% of that will be waged legally. *Insert debate about making sports betting legal*
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My biggest issue with Odell Beckham Jr.’s video was that he ordered a crappy hotel pizza and not something from Uber Eats or DoorDash.
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Please stop sharing that Kanye West song bracket because it doesn’t even have Lost in the World as one of his best songs. Bye.
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Shout out to all the companies that will let employees watch the NCAA games and work. I’ll never take for granted the opportunity to work in an industry that encourages us to watch basketball during work hours. This really is my favorite time of the year.
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Be sure to follow me on Twitter for my brackets: The Raheel and Del listener bracket, Baby Trixster Picks The Games bracket, and my official bracket!
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How Rockets' latest financial gambles shake up the team and its future
Oct 22, 2024, 3:10 pm
C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.