Friday Texans Cody Stoots Six-Pack

Texans turn corner with primetime win, but Fuller injury is a downer

Texans turn corner with primetime win, but Fuller injury is a downer
Will Fuller tore his ACL. Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

The Texans have a bonafide winning streak and they added their first blowout win of the season to their resume. We look at it with today's six-pack. 

1. This is perhaps the greatest catch that didn't count of all-time. DeAndre Hopkins makes it look easy too. He was stellar tonight with a slow start but got going, finishing with 82 yards and two catches. Hopkins had plenty to say about his catch that didn't count. "They took my catch away" was his first comment. He maintained he didn't push off and someone "owed him an apology." When asked if he was the game's best pass catcher he simply said "If y'all don't know who I am by now then don't ask me that question."

2. Deshaun Watson had his most efficient and successful game of the season. He tied his career high in touchdowns with five and did so with only 20 attempts. He had just four incompletions. He played magnificently and is clearly as healthy as he has been in weeks. He even showed his exceptional escapability on a few plays. He now has the second-most touchdown passes ever by a quarterback through his first 15 games with 34. That trails Kurt Warner who had 36. They have the same number of total touchdowns with 37 when you add rushing touchdowns. 

3. The offensive line was fantastic Thursday night. They allowed zero sacks and one quarterback hit, which was on the fourth play of the game. They paved the way for Lamar Miller's first consecutive 100-yard rushing games as a Texans player. Greg Mancz has been a breath of fresh air at right guard. He should be the starter there even when Zach Fulton gets healthy. Kendall Lamm said after the game they take pride in improving and making the plays they need to make. When asked about the effective rushing attack helping the play action game Lamm exclaimed "oh man, as you can see as you watch, you can see the linebackers come down, the safeties, it puts them in conflict. They see us pounding the rock and they have to respect it and as you can see we just pick them apart. It's just a beautiful thing."

4. Will Fuller tore his ACL. He is a dynamic element to this offense. This is a major blow to the Texans as no one posses a similar enough skillset to replicate the necessary respect Fuller commands from opposing defenses. Sammie Coates and Vyncint Smith will be the two competing for snaps opposite Hopkins. It doesn't seem likely the Texans would pursue a trade with their offense being so demanding and reportedly hard to learn, but, they have an extra asset with Seattle's second-round pick this year. 

5. The injuries piled up for the Texans on Thursday. Johnathan Joseph was lost early in the game and took a wait and see approach when asked about his injury. Zach Cunningham left the game and didn't return with a knee injury. His replacement, Peter Kalambayi, left with a concussion. Jadeveon Clowney got dinged up late but he said after the game he was fine and joked he forgot what he hurt. The ten-day break ahead of their contest at Denver followed by the bye week couldn't come at a better time. 

6. It is the first time the Texans have won five straight games since the 2012 season where they rattled off two win streaks of at least five games. The win streak didn't start in the most impressive way but it has turned into a nice showing with the Texans eliminating more and more mistakes. There are still a few shortcomings on this team but they are playing complete football the past two games which is a rarity for them. If they continue playing like Thursday there aren't many teams they can't hang with on their schedule. 

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
The Royals beat the Astros 2-0. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Michael Wacha scattered four hits over six innings, Vinnie Pasquantino homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 2-0 for the second straight night Saturday to run their winning streak to six.

Wacha (1-3) once again received little run support, but the veteran right-hander made the meager production stand up on chilly evening at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out six while walking two and never allowed a runner past second base.

Steven Cruz worked the seventh for Kansas City, his seventh appearance this season without allowing a run. John Schreiber left runners on the corners in the eighth, and Carlos Estévez had a perfect ninth for his seventh save.

Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and scored in the first inning for the Royals, extending his career-best hitting streak to 18 games.

Framber Valdez (1-3) gave up a sacrifice fly to Mark Canha in the first inning and Pasquantino's shot down the right-field line in the fifth. Otherwise, the Astros left-hander kept Kansas City in check, allowing three hits and two walks over eight innings.

Valdez had tossed seven shutout innings against the Royals last August in a 3-2 victory.

The Astros, who have lost five straight at the K, have managed just nine hits while getting shut out over the first two games of the series. They had rolled into Kansas City having won three straight and five of their last six games.

Key moment

Isaac Parades hit a two-out double and Jeremy Peña followed with a single to give Houston runners on the corners in the eighth inning. Schreiber bounced back to strike out Christian Walker with a four-seam fastball to end the threat.

Key stat

The Royals have only scored seven runs in the 32 innings that Wacha has pitched this season.

Up next

RHP Hunter Brown (3-1, 1.16) tries to extend a 24-inning scoreless streak for Houston in the series finale Sunday. LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 1.45) gets the start for Kansas City after tossing seven shutout innings against the Rockies his last time out.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome