“Houston, we have a problem.”
After an absolutely awful performance in Week One of the NFL schedule, the Texans outdid themselves in their home opener by rolling over and playing dead to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-7. This is a Texans team that is clearly in turmoil, as most of the players are lifeless and merely going through the motions. In fact, the Texans are beginning to resemble those vintage Oiler disaster-teams of the early 1970’s.
After almost writing off the Stros’ playoff chances a couple of weeks ago, a couple of future Hall of Famers turned in the type of remarkable performances that might just make the difference in pushing the Stros into the National League Wild Card Playoff berth.
On this past Wednesday, after the Stros had lost two straight games to the Marlins and fallen 1.5 games behind the Fish in the race for the Wild Card playoff spot, Roger Clemens took the mound 15 hours after his mother’s death and pitched the Stros to a desperately needed 10-2 victory over the Marlins. Then, on Friday, Jeff Bagwell came off the bench in only his third at bat since coming back after four months on the disabled list to hit a two out, pinch hit single in the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the Brewers that pushed the Stros back into the lead in the Wild Card race. With their series sweep of the Brewers, the Stros have now won five straight games as they prepare for their final 13 regular season games over the last two weeks of the regular season.
