TEXANS 29, JETS 22
Texans come up with just enough plays to get past Jets 29-22
Dec 15, 2018, 7:05 pm
TEXANS 29, JETS 22
Houston walked out of The Meadowlands with a 29-22 victory Saturday, earning its 10th win of the season. In a game that was closer than expected, the Texans got the win and earned Head Coach Bill O'Brien his best record in five seasons on the job. His team can now clinch the AFC South division with a loss by the Colts and Titans this week. It wasn't a great win against the now 4-10 Jets, but it was enough to keep the momentum going. Ka'imi Fairbairn was the player of the game hitting 5 for 5 on field goals to keep the Texans scoring on drives that stalled on the opponent's side of the field.
Houston's third ranked rushing attack was hampered early when starter Lamar Miller went down with an ankle injury. His loss limited the game plan and the Texans finished the game with only 48 total yards; Watson getting 27 of those on three carries. The emphasis on the passing game left the offensive line exposed and Deshaun Watson's inability to throw the ball away led to six sacks for -55 yards.
Watson was able to move the offense enough to get in scoring range on several drives. He finished the game 22 of 28 for 294 yards and two touchdowns, which was enough to secure a win. He was helped by his star players, guys like DeAndre Hopkins who had 108 of his 170 yards in the first half. He caught Houston's early touchdown but would add a second touchdown in the fourth quarter to retake the lead after the Jets went ahead 22-19 on an Elijah McGuire Touchdown run.
Big plays on the defense kept Houston in the game. Early on, J.J. Watt got his sack total to 13.5 and then forced the fumble by Jets running back Elijah McGuire that set up Houston's early touchdown. Jadeveon Clowney was all over the field against the run, including a tackle for loss and being on the receiving end of a holding penalty where he clearly would have been in the backfield. He was also the man who sacked Darnold on 3rd down of the Jets last drive to ensure the Texans win. But despite the pressure they applied, they were only able to get the two total sacks and Darnold finished the game 24/38 for 253 yards and two touchdowns.
The Texans defense gave up 90 yards on the ground against a team that averaged 106-yard per game but gaps in coverage allowed plays that kept the game closer than it should have been. This wasn't Houston's best game, but it was enough to secure the win and get closer to the divisional crown and with a little luck, a playoff bye week.
They face the Super Bowl Champion Eagles on the road next week, but they may be without their starting running back and reeling from an injury riddled season. They will have to keep doing enough to win out and hope for some luck on their way into the playoffs.
Wilmer Flores homered again and Luis Matos and LaMonte Wade Jr. also went deep to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
It’s the fourth home run this season for Flores, who hit just four in 71 games last season. His four homers were tied with Aaron Judge, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki for second-most in the majors entering Wednesday night’s games.
Flores got things going with his two-run shot to the seats in left field off Framber Valdez (1-1) with one out in the first. Matos made it 3-0 with his shot to center field to start the second.
Heliot Ramos doubled with one out in the inning to extend his streak with an extra-base hit to six games to start the season, tying Felipe Alou (1963) for the longest such streak in franchise history. The double drove in two runs to push the lead to 5-0.
Jeremy Peña walked and stole second base with two outs in the second before scoring on a single to center field by Zach Dezenzo to cut the lead to 5-1.
Dezenzo gets us on the board pic.twitter.com/vmmW7T74fE
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 2, 2025
Valdez allowed four hits and five runs with nine strikeouts in five innings after throwing seven scoreless frames on opening day.
The Astros loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth to chase Landen Roupp. Randy Rodríguez (1-0) took over and Yordan Alvarez hit a two-run single to cut the lead to 5-3. But Rodríguez retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to limit the damage.
Roupp allowed four hits and three runs with eight strikeouts in four-plus innings. Camilo Doval pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.
Wade’s pinch-hit home run with one out in the eighth was his first hit after opening the season 0 for 16.
Rodríguez’s performance in the fifth in working out of the jam to keep the Giants on top.
It’s the first time the Giants have swept the Astros since August 28-30, 2012, in Houston’s last season in the National League.
The Giants are off Thursday before Justin Verlander (0-0, 3.60 ERA) starts their home opener against Seattle on Friday. Houston opens a series at Minnesota on Thursday with Hunter Brown (0-1, 3.00) on the mound.