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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.
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! 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.
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