Getty Images
The Saints played a very game Titans squad, but managed to pull off a 38-28 win and continue to jockey for homefield advantage in the NFC. Here are my observations:
The Good
-With his 12 catches today, Michael Thomas broke Marvin Harrison's record for receptions in a single season with 145. He totaled 136 yards on those receptions which gives him 1,688 on the season. He's by far the league leader in both categories and it's not even close. He also has nine touchdowns on the season. In his fourth season, Thomas has become one of the best receivers in the game. His career is off to a historic start.
-Rookie safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson came up with a game winning play when he forced Kalif Raymond tro fumble after Raymond caught a pass that put them on the edge of field goal range when they were down 31-28 with 4:06 left in the game. Gardner-Johnson has played well as a rookie. He's had his moments of screw ups, what rookie defensive back doesn't? But for a 4th round draft pick, he's been a diamond in the rough pick who looks to be a valuable piece on this defense.
-Alvin Kamara got into the end zone! He scored on a 40-yard run to cap off the first possession of the 2nd half and again on a one yard run on their next possession. These were his first touchdowns since he had a pair in week 3 against the Seahawks. It's been a tough year for Kamara considering he had 18 touchdowns last year. He's been battling injuries this season, which is something he didn't really have trouble with in his first two seasons. It'll be a good thing to get him going before the playoffs start. This offense truly clicks because he's a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
The Bad
-The coverage was a concern of mine heading into this game that proved correct. Ryan Tannehill had time to find guys that were wide open. Perfect example was Jonnu Smith running a crossing route across the field, catching the ball clean, and running after the catch for a touchdown. I don't think he was touched by a Saints defender until he crossed the goal line.
-Brees had a hard time getting going. He was 14/21 in the 1st half. While that may not seem like a bad thing compared to most quarterbacks, it's different when you're one of the league's all-time greats at the position. It's especially unusual considering he's coming off a 29/30 performance against the Colts.
-On 4th and 7 with the Saints up 31-28, they tried a fake punt and it almost worked. Taysom Hill was the upback and took the snap. He bootlegged around the right side almost as if he was going to run for it but threw a dart to Justin Hardee who dropped it. He ran a good out route for a guy who plays corner, but let it hit his chest and fall to the ground like a guy who plays corner.
The Ugly
-The missed tackles are becoming a real issue on defense. Not only did they fail to tackle Smith on his touchdown, but wide receiver A.J. Brown took a toss 49 yards to the house after he dodged a few Saints defenders and ran passed the others. It's apart of their issue giving up big plays, which has plagued this team far too often in its history. Big plays in the playoffs often means losing.
-Penalties! Penalties! Penalties! If fans and supporters of this team are sick and tired of it, I can't imagine how Sean Payton must feel. I'm tired of writing this line. I'll start copying and pasting a generic line. They had 9 penalties accepted for 65 yards against the Titans...in the 1st half! They "only" had two accepted in the 2nd half for five more yards mainly due to being pinned inside the one yard line and being flagged for a delay of game on a punt.
-Part of the reason this team has struggled with penalties has been injuries along the offensive line. Both starting guards, Andrus Peat and Larry Warford, were out. This also led to Brees being sacked three times today, when he's only been sacked nine times all season entering this game. Backups are backups for a reason, but they need to step it up.
With the 49ers at 12-3, the Saints will need help to finish with the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Next week, they'll need to beat the Panthers and have the Seahawks beat the 49ers. It's not totally out of the realm of possibility, but having to rely on other teams isn't ideal. Had they not dropped that inexplicable game to the Falcons, or lost in a shootout to the 49ers, we'd be talking about them with the #1 seed locked up already. Good thing the Michael Thomas record is out of the way. Now they can focus on dispatching the Panthers next week and possibly securing a bye in first round.
It’s May 1, and the Astros are turning heads—but not for the reasons anyone expected. Their resurgence, driven not by stars like Yordan Alvarez or Christian Walker, but by a cast of less-heralded names, is writing a strange and telling early-season story.
Christian Walker, brought in to add middle-of-the-order thump, has yet to resemble the feared hitter he was in Arizona. Forget the narrative of a slow starter—he’s never looked like this in April. Through March and April of 2025, he’s slashing a worrying .196/.277/.355 with a .632 OPS. Compare that to the same stretch in 2024, when he posted a .283 average, .496 slug, and a robust .890 OPS, and it becomes clear: this is something more than rust. Even in 2023, his April numbers (.248/.714 OPS) looked steadier.
What’s more troubling than the overall dip is when it’s happening. Walker is faltering in the biggest moments. With runners in scoring position, he’s hitting just .143 over 33 plate appearances, including 15 strikeouts. The struggles get even more glaring with two outs—.125 average, .188 slugging, and a .451 OPS in 19 such plate appearances. In “late and close” situations, when the pressure’s highest, he’s practically disappeared: 1-for-18 with a .056 average and a .167 OPS.
His patience has waned (only 9 walks so far, compared to 20 by this time last year), and for now, his presence in the lineup feels more like a placeholder than a pillar.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer when you look at José Altuve—long the engine of this franchise—who, in 2024, delivered in the moments Walker is now missing. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Altuve hit .275 with an .888 OPS. In late and close situations, he thrived with a .314 average and .854 OPS. That kind of situational excellence is missing from this 2025 squad—but someone else may yet step into that role.
And yet—the Astros are winning. Not because of Walker, but in spite of him.
Houston’s offense, in general, hasn’t lit up the leaderboard. Their team OPS ranks 23rd (.667), their slugging 25th (.357), and they sit just 22nd in runs scored (117). They’re 26th in doubles, a rare place for a team built on gap-to-gap damage.
But where there’s been light, it hasn’t come from the usual spots. Jeremy Peña, often overshadowed in a lineup full of stars, now boasts the team’s highest OPS at .791 (Isaac Paredes is second in OPS) and is flourishing in his new role as the leadoff hitter. Peña’s balance of speed, contact, aggression, and timely power has given Houston a surprising tone-setter at the top.
Even more surprising: four Astros currently have more home runs than Yordan Alvarez.
And then there’s the pitching—Houston’s anchor. The rotation and bullpen have been elite, ranking 5th in ERA (3.23), 1st in WHIP (1.08), and 4th in batting average against (.212). In a season where offense is lagging and clutch hits are rare, the arms have made all the difference.
For now, it’s the unexpected contributors keeping Houston afloat. Peña’s emergence. A rock-solid pitching staff. Role players stepping up in quiet but crucial ways. They’re not dominating, but they’re grinding—and in a sluggish AL West, that may be enough.
Walker still has time to find his swing. He showed some signs of life against Toronto and Detroit. If he does, the Astros could become dangerous. If he doesn’t, the turnaround we’re witnessing will be credited to a new cast of unlikely faces. And maybe, that’s the story that needed to be written.
We have so much more to discuss. Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday!
*ChatGPT assisted.
___________________________
Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!