The Matt Thomas Show with Ross - Texans Back-To-Back Division Champs, Rockets Knocked Out Of NBA Cup, Reflecting On Tucker Trade

Episode Date: December 16, 2024

Ross Villarreal of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" and Dan Mathews of "The A-Team" recap the Houston Texans defeating the Miami Dolphins 20-12 to clinch their second consecutive AFC South division title. Ross and Dan also:review Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans' latest commentsfurther discuss the Astros trading Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubsdebate the differences between Nolan Arenado and Alex Bregmanreact to the Rockets getting eliminated from the NBA Cup after losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder and more.

Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. 10-0-1 in H-Town. Good morning and welcome in to a Monday edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas. Third and five, messy pocket. Look out. Anders and knocked it away. That ball is alive.

By shuttle. Fumble by 2. Agoombo-Ali is the running back. Third down and four. blocked by Tunsel on Auburn. Stroud. Inzone. Touchdown. Collins.

And they cash in on the fumble by Tungle by Lola. Short game against Baltimore on Christmas Day on Wednesday. Second six, Eichenberg a block. And it's a position. There goes Pollock in the five. Would have been a big connection, if not a touchdown. It's a fake. Townsend was going to punt inside the 10.

This season for Houston, Second and goal. Stroud. There's a block by the wide receiver Woods. Cough touchdown, Houston. His second touchdown reception today. Damn, you look sexy. Let's go to my yacht in the West Keys.

The Houston Texans. Host the Miami Dolphins. They win the game. They cover the spread. C.J. Stroud had two touchdowns. Didn't throw a pick. Derek Stingley is locking up Tyreek Hill. You have your edge rushers doing their thing.

Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. And everyone in Houston is complaining as your Texans are 9 and 5. Hello and welcome in to the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas. Dan Matthews hanging out. Dan, thanks for being here. Yeah, I mean, the ball was alive yesterday. Yes, if you heard Kevin Harlan. say. I mean, Kevin Harlan told us that the ball was alive.

Not just live ball. It is alive. It has a mind of its own. It is oblong in shape and can move in various ways. It grew limbs and everything. Luckily, it was picked up by the Texans. And then luckily, you scored a touchdown on that very next offensive drive. Yes, you did. Connemargevin is here as well. My name is Ross Villarillo. We got a lot of stuff to talk about. Matt Thomas is out. I do not believe it is rocket's rest. I believe it is vacation time he is taking and special instructions for Connor McGovern as we are now a week and change away from Christmas. All Christmas music, Matt Thomas hates it. I love it. I'm going to be out for the end of the week. So Matt Thomas is out at the beginning of the week. It's December.

You know how that is at your work. Everybody's using up the vacation. Same thing's happening here. So Dan, I appreciate you hanging out. Well, the only other suggestion that I was going to make was that maybe we have the greatest hits of Will Smith, you know, like the one from Wild Wild West, the one from Men in Black. The one, the greatest hit, so you're talking about smacking Chris Rock in the

face, correct? I mean, yeah, that's one of his greatest hits. That was his most recent greatest hit. Yeah. Where you just play that on beat? It's going to say, the classics that he had, you know, we can always remember those, because he always, he always seemed to come out with one right before one of his feature films came out. Are the

Texans getting jiggy with it? 7-13, 2-1-2-5-7-90. I don't think that one was tied to a feature film, but I could be wrong. 7-13-212-5-7-90. That's your phone number if you want to get in. You can also send us tweets. I'm at SportsR-V. He has Dan Matthews, H-O-U with 1-T.

You can also, you know what? If you want to make a Christmas song request, do it at Connor D. McGovern as well. So a lot of stuff to get to here with you on the program, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Matt Thomas show with Ross, but without Matt Thomas. So, yeah, of course, first things first out of the gate. Texans win yesterday, and they're nine and five.

And as I just said, I mean, I understand why some fans are certainly underwhelmed. You didn't even muster 200 yards of offense. But coming into that game, the Dolphins had won four out of five. And I don't know if I've been as confident in this defense with missing Jalen Petrie and having him be out for the year. And what else? There were some other injury or something, right? Well, I mean, you didn't have Aziz Al-Shay. That's what it is.

Aziz Al-Shayir on suspension. You're missing two of your players who have been stalwarts in your defense all season long, and you completely shut down this Dolphins offense that had been humming well since Stua Tongavalo had come back from his injury. Yeah, I mean, he pretty much just could not throw the football down the field. I mean, the Texans, you dialed up pressure a couple of times, got to him. But for the most part, did a really good job of just making them uncomfortable back there. I mean, I think that's probably, you know, the biggest storyline you can take from this defense. But how weird is it, too, Ross, as I was thinking this morning before coming in.

And I've made this comparison numerous times that this Texans team mirrors the Astros from this past season so much. Because we always have so much high hopes for the Astros offense. Who is there, Jose Abraeu? 713-212-5-7-90. I don't think it's necessarily like individual player-based. Yeah, I'm just kidding. But, I mean, we had, say, for example, with the pitching staff this year, we had some reservations coming into the season, especially with injuries and everything

else of who you're not going to have. Man, I hope this group is good. And we said the same thing about the defensive front for the Texans. After you lose Sheldon Rankins, after you lose Malik Collins, you're kind of like, did we do enough to necessarily bolster that group? And there were some concerns there. And that group has probably been one of the better performing ones on this entire team. Yeah, I've really been impressed with the defense.

Of course, offense, we can talk about at length and some issues that we're feeling like we have there. And, oh, by the way, I didn't even mention Joe Mixen turning his ankle could be another high ankle sprain. Did come back, much like earlier in the season, came back into the game, wasn't very effective, and now we're going to have to monitor him going forward. But on the defensive side, real quick, I feel like this. Now, I don't know if it's necessarily Bulls-on parade level. Windomico Ryan's and JJ Watt and Antonio Smith and whoever else and the boys were really tearing it up, but

this squad is impressive. And they keep losing pieces, like Azizal Shah here, who will luckily come back. Unfortunately, Jalen Petrie will not. And he's been a huge part of the Texan success this year. But you had Christian Harris back. He had a bunch of tackles. You've been missing Toto at some points of this season.

He led the team with 11. And Derek Stingley doing his thing. Like, at once Jalen Walthe went out of that game, he shadowed Tyree Kill. And Tyree Kill was completely shut down. Now Tyreek Hill may be dealing with some sort of ailment on his own end, but he had back-to-back really good games. It looked like he was on the verge of a breakout, and he did squadouche against the Texans. A lot of that because of the coverage of Derek Stingley, who ended up with a couple of picks.

It was pretty interesting to see Christian Harris, and I didn't get a direct play count in terms of how many he played on the field. But I didn't see that coming. I thought that probably you could maybe count on about 15 to 20 plays. he played much more than that. Wex will probably have the breakdown. The snap counts. Maybe hand curated? Yeah, probably.

From the press box with his binoculars? Maticulous notes. I'm telling you. You know, Wex is kind of like a pitcher where, you know, he's got a no hitter going. Don't talk to him. Don't bother him. And I try to do that. We've got a seat in between us.

Oh, the press box? Yeah, I usually just let Wex do his thing. And then, you know, I do mine. I eat a lot of food and watch the game. and we'll comment here and there on Twitter as I did yesterday. Okay. So we'll get full snap counts coming up at 2 p.m. is what you're telling us. Yes, yes, yes.

Soup to nuts with Wex. So on to the offensive side of the ball. And it feels like we've just been asking this all year long. What's a deal with the Texan's offense? Under 200 yards in the game yesterday. Thankfully, you won the turnover battle, a 4-1 in the game. You got a bunch of picks. That really helped out.

A lot of short-fields. of those picks and you are able to win this game. But you obviously cannot count on the other team turning the ball over over and over again to get wins. Well, I mean, it's not a sustainable model. You're not wrong about that. I mean, if this team is going to go on some sort of run either at the end of the regular season or even in the playoffs as well, like I threw this out on Twitter last night. The third seed is not out of the question. That Pittsburgh's got a tough schedule coming up here in the final three weeks of the season against all three teams who are vying for playoff positions. So, I mean, you could possibly catch them. And I understand, too,

what's ahead. I mean, we're going to wait and see, I guess, on Patrick Mahomes. We're going to also know that Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are coming into town. And, oh, by the way, kind of like we talked about that teams that certain Houston teams just can't beat, well, the Ravens have been that for this organization. So, I mean, you've got to be able to find some sort of consistency. And, I mean, you talked about it with Joe Mixon. It's going to be interesting to keep an eye on him this week and see, you know, what he's able to do. But, I mean, you know, it's a buddy of mine brought this up yesterday and the point is so true. It's all or nothing with Mixing. Like, have you noticed that this season? It's either he really goes off or he runs for about

a yard or two a carry on like 10 or 11 carries. It's just not a good day for him. Yeah. I mean, yesterday it was bad. It was two yards of carry and he had a bad game. It was a couple of weeks ago as well, but I mean, I'm still at the end of the day. He's 4.2 a carry, decent. 910 yards, 11 touchdowns. He's been, to me, he's the engine of their offense,

obviously. But yeah, if I'm going through the game logs, he's had a really bad game against Chicago, and Detroit wasn't great, and then Tennessee, and then this last one. Other than that, he's had over 100 yards in every single game. So, yeah, you're right, he hasn't had an in-between game, but I'm

I'm still not going to, like, downgrade him and call him like a no show or something like that. Oh no, and that's not what I'm saying. Don't get me wrong because, I mean, I will give credit to Bobby Sloick for at least, I mean, the very first play of the game offensively is a pass underneath to Mixon and he's able to take it, what, 15 yards or so. And I mean, that's something that I think kind of Bobby Sloick is having in his back pocket of saying, all right, if we're going to have trouble running the ball against this front, how can we get him involved in other ways? And that's the other way you can get him involved. And they did. Yeah. All right. So Joe Mixon, we will see on his injury.

How are we feeling about the Texans? I put out a tweet, and I mean, I would say 80% of it, everybody's like pissed off or angry or talking about how they can't get excited for a team that is 9 and 5. They have clinched the AFC South. They've won the division for the second time in a row. They have nine wins out of their 14 games. The defense is playing lights out despite missing pieces. And, well, everybody's upset.

But how are you feeling? 713-212-5-790 is the phone number 7-13-212-5-7-90. We have a lot of other stuff to get to. The Rockets are out of the NBA Cup. Have you gotten over shedding all of your tears about that over the weekend? There's college football stuff going on as well, and many things to get to on the NFL side as well. It's 7-13-212-5-790. More Matt Thomas Show with Ross.

Now on Sports Talk 790 Welcome in Or welcome back To the Matt Thomas show with Ross With Christmas on I'm not familiar with But it sounds Christmas-e I can't remember the name of it

But I just remember it from Stranger Things It was on an episode of Stranger Things Okay, I'll take your word for it Great show by the way It is a great show Welcome in All right, that's Dan Matthews. I wanted to hit the post.

Connor McGovern is here. We're talking Texans. Here on Sunday 99.1. Sunni. At workstation. 99.1. No, we're not on Sunny. But are we going to get a cease and desist from Sunny?

We're playing Christmas music all throughout the show. I don't think so. I think Shermanator likes us. I think he'll let us probably have a reference or two. Plus it's cross-promotion. Yeah, that's true. Oh, this is not working. This is correct.

I hate this computer. Why is this not working? Let me try this. There we go. Okay, welcome back to the Matt Thomas show with Ross, without Matt Thomas. He is out on vacation. He will be back Thursday. I will be leaving Thursday.

Or actually Wednesday evening, it is my 40th birthday coming up. Oh, wow. I'm officially old. Well, I've been officially old for a long time, but I'm still going to be a super official old. and I will be heading to the great city of New Orleans for the weekend. Okay. You got your food spots picked out? Yes, for the most part.

Looking for suggestions? No, thank you. I appreciate it. I mean, if you want, but I've already basically, I've got my whole itiner. I was going to say, you have to search hard to be able to find a bad meal in New Orleans. Exactly. I'm that place isn't going to be open to long. I've got a good mix of things I have not tried yet and things that are staples.

Okay. Very good. So looking forward to it. And that's always kind of my favorite is to pick up a new. spot there. And I mean, and I'm not talking about just stuff in the quarter. Like, I'm talking about stuff that might be on like, I don't know. Frenchman Street. Yeah, magazine

Oh, Frenchman Street. I'm going to be spending a lot of time there. Frenchman is kind of like their Montrose, I guess, if you will. Well, it's, I guess. It's just more of the heights. Maybe the heights. I wouldn't even make a, I would just make a comparison to almost, it's just,

Bourbon Street is like the sixth street on steroids. Yeah. And Frenchman Street is like, I mean, it's more just music bars. You can go to 10 music venues within like two blocks, so I love Frenchman Street. I was going to say, I mean, usually, you know, LaSalle, Poitris, those others. I mean, that's where the locals go. I mean, the locals don't really necessarily go to the quarter anyway. I mean, yeah, bourbon's all the tourists.

Yeah, I will go check it out. I mean, look, everybody's talking about how they're for the tourists and they don't go there. I'm like, yeah, but it's still a spectacle. Where else are you going to see horse poop, people vomiting, and then like 7,000 bars in every block? It's amazing. types of poop too as well as I've seen I've seen it I love New Orleans though should be fun I also haven't been to the World War II Museum so I'm going to be going to down on Friday yeah it's great so I'm looking to carve out some time to go to the the WW2 museum that's where my my cousin's

wedding reception was was at the World War II Museum really yeah they have like party venues they did a mock Normandy landing during the wedding didn't they yeah they rode in the bride it was in her full in her dress she was crawling up the sand rode in on a Higgins boat it was it was Quite a scene. That was a PT-109 they had her rolling up on. Just this time when they dropped the gate, nobody got shot. So that was good. That's when you threw confetti at him.

That's it. That's it. Yeah, yeah. We just peppered them with confetti and rice. That's all, yeah, okay. That's what sounds like a fun time. It was. It was awesome.

It was a great time. Saziraks everywhere. Well, of course. Of course. All right. So we're talking some Texas football, I believe, I believe here on the show. 20 to 12 win yesterday. 9 and 5 the Texans are so far this season.

They've clenched the AFC South. Obviously, I guess you continue to compete and try to improve your seating. My question is, where do the Texans go from here? You're playing the Chiefs who may not have Patrick Mahomes, and you may not have Joe Mixon, depending on what's going to happen and what his status is going to be going forward. Then it's the Ravens and the Titans. What do you want to see from the Texans?

in the next three games. Two out of three. I mean, and that's the funny thing is, too, is you're talking about people who are upset about this team and it doesn't look the way that they necessarily hoped it would. Are you aware if they win two out of three? They're better than last season. Last year, they were 10 and 7.

Yeah. They went two out of three. They're 11 and 6. That's a better football team. It is a better football team. And now we'll see, especially, I mean, even with Pat Mahomes probably going to be out. The Texans, two and a half point favorites in that game,

so it's slight. And we'll see what happens. happens with his status and his availability. I mean, they are 13 and 1. They did lose the head to head to the bills. So how much are they going to push it to try to get to that buy week when it comes to the health of Patrick Mahomes will be interesting to see as well? Yeah, I mean, they've got two games up, I guess really one. If, you know, they both finish with the identical record because of what you just said right there. But, I mean, that's going to be the interesting thing to keep an eye on this week. I do think that Patrick Mahomes is going to give every single effort to try to play in this

game. But I do think, though, as well, that it will be a conversation of, hey, if it's not 100% there, then don't, don't try it. Like, it's just not worth it because after this, you've got, like I said, the Steelers, then you got the Broncos if you're Kansas City. So, I mean, it's not an easy stretch for them either and try to hold on to that number one. No, it's not. Do you know what the bill's remaining schedule is? It's pretty cake. It's it's, it's, it's, it's, jets, Pats, Pats, Jets, Pats. Boy, what, I mean, just.

So the bills are going to finish 14 and 3. I mean, just what, like an ironclad walk of, you know, just going through the crucible of the NFL at that point. Yeah, that AFC East, not as formidable as it has been in years past. I mean, Jets had dead, I'm sorry, excuse, Patriots is in dead last place, and then the Jets right behind them just four and ten. And those are the three remaining. games for the bill so i mean it seems like they're going to finish 14 and three and then as you

mentioned the chiefs loseable game if pat mohomes is going to miss time steelers and broncos both very tough both very good defensive teams i would say those are both going to be very a chiefs have a great defense low scoring games anything can happen in those well it's not only that i mean it's it's also too i mean for everything i just mentioned right there the chiefs only have to win one of these final three games if they do that then they're in and i think that's another thing that's going to kind of factor in to, you know, the decision for Saturday. It's a short week, too, as well. I mean, both teams are already on their Tuesday, as is.

I think probably today will be an off day, if I'm not mistaken, and then practice, like their Wednesday is tomorrow, Thursday on Wednesday, you know where I'm going with this. That's kind of how they'll handle all of this. Yeah. But, I mean, the other side of it as well is that I think Andy Reid probably looks at Carson Wentz and says, hey, you've gotten teams in position before the Super Bowl year. I mean, Carson Wentz was playing the football that they hoped he was going to play for the Eagles.

He looked like he had full of promise. And then, I mean, after that, it was, hey, we like this Foles guy. Let's stick with him for a little bit. And then it was, hey, you're going to be a guy that bounces around a little bit because, I mean, I really just can't ever, you know, put a reason on why Wince has never gotten going in his career. But he's going to third in the MVP, his second year. Who's to say that he can't kind of be the new age Sam Darnold after the. this year, Sam Darnold. Yeah, I mean, if you tell me that Carson Wentz comes in there, and I wouldn't say don't

skip a B, but if he plays really well and helps lead the Chiefs to win, that wouldn't be the most shocking thing that I've ever heard. It's almost like, I mean, the Chiefs, and they've relied on kind of a similar formula that Texans have. When close games, your defense steps up for you. You rely enough on your run game with Pacheco, who's been up and down with injuries this year. But, I mean, their offense has not been any great shakes this year.

Mahomes? No. It has been, I would say, probably by his standards, pretty pedestrian this year. All right. I'm also going to say a little prediction. It's not a gut feeling on a Tuesday, but it also, I think that with Pat Mahomes out, Andy Reid is going to prioritize, and we've seen more use with Xavier Worthy lately. He got another touchdown over the weekend.

So it's like screens, end arounds, ways to get him in space and get the ball in his hand to help out the offense and help out Carson Wentz. I'm going to say that's a Kansas City Chief to keep an eye on this weekend, Xavier Worthy. But I mean, let's take, you know, just a step back and look at yesterday's game. That's what Miami tried to do. I mean, how many downfield throws did Miami necessarily have? Maybe one. I mean, and the one.

What was the average depth of target for Tutankovolo? Every time he threw it downfield, he got it picked. Well, I was going to say, either got it picked or he let his receivers too far. But, I mean, it almost just seemed like just trying to screen you to death yesterday. That's what Mike McDaniel was trying to do. And credit to the Texans too. Domeika Ryan's talked about two things last week. Number one, the motions and just, you know, trying to stay disciplined with your eyes.

And the other one was making tackles in open space. And this defense did that yesterday. I mean, that was one of those where you'd see a screen and you had about three or four guys coming at the guy. 4.9 yards per attempt for Tua yesterday. That is mega low. And, well, C.J. Strave was 5.0. All right. Time for a quick break here on the match.

Thomas show with Ross. Dan Matthews in Matt Thomas out. You want to get in, 713. We traded in on Matthew for a Matthews. 713 212-5-790 is the phone number. I have more hair too. 7-13-212-5-7-90. And you're going to make fewer Sanford and Sun references as

well. All right. tweets at Sports RV at Dan Matthews H-O-U if you'd like to get in. We're going to take a quick break here. But before we do that, I do have to remind you where you need to go. You need to have this place top of mind. Cinergenics, if you've been feeling like you've been losing a little bit of that energy, losing that motivation. Libito hasn't been what it once was and you're putting it off

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Centergenics testosterone and weight loss. Houston. It's your home team. A lifelong Astros fan here. Anytime. Anywhere. your whole theme. The Go Rockers. Just tell you a smart device. Play Sports Talk 790 on IHart Radio. Playing Sports Talk 790 on IHeart Radio.

It's a Texans 9 and 5 Monday. Here on Sports Talk 790, the Matt Thomas show. See, I feel like people listen to this Christmas song because it kind of makes them feel like they're cool, but then like you realize that this Christmas song came out like way over 40 years ago. Yeah. What's wrong, man? You got problem with Christmas and Hollis?

No, I have no. I have zero problem with Christmas and Hollis. and Hollis and Hollis, Dan. I'm just saying that, I mean, there's a little on the older side. I think most people, I think you could listen to this and know it's from the 1980s. Or what is this? Early 90s? It's got to be late 80s.

Yeah, it's got to be the 80s. That's when DMC really started to get going. Yes, when they're wearing their Adidas. That's it. And it's their Adidas. Not anybody else is their Adidas. Correct. November 25th, 1987.

There you go. Christmas and Hollis. There you go. I was two years old. That was a very long. time ago. So 37 years ago. I was off by a little.

713. Yeah. 2.12. 570 is the phone number. 713. 2.1 2.5.790. So I was thinking about this. And I will read some of the comments

from people on Twitter after I said Texans 9 and 5 after beating the dolphins. How are we feeling? But if you're any fan base in football, who is the most confident fan base right now? Is it the Buffalo Bill's or the Philadelphia Eagles?

Because I feel like if you're a cheese fan, first of all, you're worried about Patrick Mahomes, but you've been in one-score games with the likes of like the Carolina Panthers and the Las Vegas Raiders, despite being 12 and 1. You played a really good Bill's team. And well, they beat you and it was a multi-score game. And now your quarterbacks hurt. Steelers, I don't know, maybe they're feeling really confident. But the dolphins, I mean, excuse me, Detroit Lion fans,

they're probably scared out of their gourd out of their about their defense and how their defense is giving up points. And they're so scared about how bad their defense is. Dan Campbell's onside kicking down 10 in the fourth quarter. So who is really, really feeling great about their team and the way that they're positioned right now? I would say that probably of the scenarios you threw out, you got to go to the Eagles.

I mean, just because you got to think about this is a Buffalo team that the last couple of weeks giving up a lot of points. I mean, you know, they just gave up 44, excuse me, to the Rams the week before. And you gave up 42 yesterday to Detroit. So that's a defense that can give up some scoring. With the Eagles, I would probably say that the game plan for teams to try to stop them and slow them down, stop Saquan.

You stop Saquan. You pretty much stop their offense because Jalen Hertz in the passing game, and you just had a week ago. One of their top targets was complaining about the passing game where you got to have people saying, hey man, that's not cool. Don't call your quarterback out like that. He got eight catches for over 100 yards and a touchdown.

He's happy now. I thought you guys were friends, but apparently you're not. And then the person has to come back and say, hey, they're cool. They're cool. We're good. Eight catches, 110 yards and a touchdown for A.J. Brown. He's feeling better. They put up 27 on Steelers defense, which is pretty good. But did T.J. Watt get hurt in that game?

He just said he just rolled his ankle. He said he's fine. But, I mean, yeah, if you give me, a choice between the two, it's got to be the Eagles. I know they're feeling really good about themselves up there right now. I mean, I got a buddy of mine that does morning radio up there, and he's already telling his listeners, start booking your

travel to New Orleans. You're going. That seems a little premature, but we'll see. That's the utmost confidence at this point. Yeah, but that's my point, though, is that everybody's poking holes and getting all upset about the Texans and everything that they're doing, but I mean, I would say even if you're the Eagles

fan base, it's feeling the most confident. you're upset about their passing game. You're upset about that and where that's going to be going forward. And Jalen Hertz, and if he's not at the one-yard line, the offense could struggle with him and him doing his things. And he's missing throws and he's not reading the defense probably. Whatever. And then the same thing with the Lions. It's the defense.

So there's no perfect team in the NFL. This is the way it's supposed to be. They're supposed to be parity. So I say that all that to say this. Quit whining about your 9 and 5 Houston Texans. there's three weeks left in the season and they've clenched the division and people are pissed off. Well, I mean, it's because at least we believed that they were going to be the top of the AFC. I mean, I think that probably, like, let's just take this for example.

You win Green Bay. You win Detroit. You win both of those games right there. You're sitting at three losses at this point. And you're the number two team in the AFC right now. And you're still playing a wild card weekend, if that's the case. So, I mean, I can understand the frustration from that standpoint because you feel like you've left some games out there that you should have won.

But then I would also say to that group, there's the flip side. And the flip side is, yeah, you also won some games that you were incredibly damn lucky to win. Yeah, I mean, they were a field goal away from beating the Lions. A couple of, if Kaimi Fairbair knocks down his long field goals, they could have very well beat the Detroit Lions. They did beat the Buffalo Bills. Now, both of those games are at home. You get the Ravens at home as well. And we could talk about the home road split and all that type of stuff.

You barely beat the Jaguars a week ago. You thrashed the Cowboys, who turned out to be aren't that bad of a team. They won a couple straight after that, and then they were close in their last one as well. Early gut feeling on that. Mike McCarthy's not going anywhere. Mike McCarthy will stay. Yeah. We like Mike and what he's doing here in Arlington, and we're going to have a great time with Mike.

Why did you turn Jerry Jones into Tillman for Tita? Is that what he did? Right for Victor. That's a little bit different. We're all Cowboys fans. I am a monkey fan. I could watch the monkeys all day long in the zoo and die laughing. All right, Tillman didn't say that one.

That one was Jerry. So I'm saying, yes, the Texans are imperfect. Yes, there are a lot of things that we have to worry about. We'll see what happens with the offensive line and juice Scruggs is heard and they had to reshuffle their offensive line several times. and they only scored a few, you know, what did they score offensively? Not a lot, only 20 points. Wait, did they get a pick six in the game?

Why is that slipping my mind right now? So, no, they got close to pick sixes, but they scored 20 offensive points, but this defense is playing lights out. I feel like if you get Aziz, I'll share back. Unfortunately, Petrie's not coming back, and you have what Demico Ryan's is able to do with these guys, Derek Stingley coming into his own.

I mean, Kaelin Bullock has been kind of me all season long, but it feels like he's playing better the last couple of weeks. This defense can keep you in any game. I think that's been their M.O. All season long, and that was their M.O. against the Bills, and it was their M.O. against the Detroit Lions. So I feel like this defense can keep you in every game, and so you're just asking C.J. Stroud to go make you a couple of plays,

and that's possible as well. They can compete with anybody, is what I'm saying. And it's also, too, I mean, you're talking about in the playoffs. I mean, you know, oh, it comes down to matchups in the playoffs, because the only goal that weekend is win that game and then worry about everything else from there. And, I mean, you've heard Damiko, all teams say it, one game at a time.

I mean, I'm just glad that the Texans don't break out the stupidest saying in sports, well, it's a big game because it's the next game. When you say that, you're going to hear that something. Come on. No, no, every single time I hear somebody say that, I don't care if I have a rooting interest in you, I hope you lose.

Because it's just intellectually, incredibly dishonest, and it's incredibly stupid to say. Just be honest. Just say, hey, yeah, we're looking forward to that game, but we've got this one right now. It is the one we're looking forward to. The biggest game is the one in front of you, Dan, and the one in front of the Texans. It's not. It's on the road Saturday.

When you're playing against the Panthers and then the following week you've got the Chiefs. Yeah, but if you're thinking about the Chiefs. You can be thinking about the Chiefs, but you're not game planning for the Chiefs. You've got to win that one or otherwise. Everybody's talking about how you lost to the Panthers. Okay, then say things like first things first. or something else instead of saying, oh, it's a big game because it's the next game.

It's the dumbest thing. It's mere semantics, Dan, mere semantics. We've got to take it one game at a time. All right, we're going to take a break here. You know what? We're taking it one segment at a time here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. I'm going around the corner of the dentist. I've got to get a filling.

The biggest segment of the show is the next segment of the show. If you want to get in 713-212-5-790, 7-13-212-5-790. More Matt Thomas show with Ross. Now on Sports Talk 790. Did you say that on air, Dan? I did not. Okay. It's going too fast.

Slow it down. It's a Will Ferrell S&L reference. I got it. I was going to say, you know, I understand that S&L and a lot of people's eyes have kind of fallen off,

but it's still for the Christmas specials, it still hits. I'll take your word for it. I haven't sat through an episode of S&L and maybe, gosh, once or twice in the last 20 years? The last one I watched was Shane Gillis because I'm a big Shane Gillis fan. Okay. That was the last one I watched.

How was it? It was great. Fantastic. It was amazing. It was amazing. He's so good. So good. See, when you have actual comedians on SNL, it's actually kind of funny.

Who knew? What a concept. Chris Rock was on there this weekend. I didn't catch that. I saw the Sandman made an appearance too as well. Maybe they're trying to do that, the Sandman, Adam Sandler. Oh, okay. Yeah, it's like, who's the Sandman.

That's, that's who. No, that's what, well, I mean, there is, there is that guy. And when he enters, watch out, say your prayers. Did he do Opera Man? I don't know if he did Opera Man, but I just, I saw that they were on there. So I don't know if, like, maybe they're trying to go back to the well a little bit. So maybe, like, we'll see a Dean Aykroyd, you know, a visit from Dean Aykroyd. Is Dan Aykroyd? I don't know.

Is Dan Eckward alive? He is. Okay. And so is Chevy. I'll take your word for it. Seems like Chevy kind of had like a little bit of a Jones with everyone. Like you know the story about he and Bill Murray, right? No, wasn't he a bad ego maniac and everyone hated him?

Yeah, I was going to say. I mean, he's just kind of a little bit of a curmudgeon, even at a young age. Yeah. But he and Murray couldn't stand each other. And the only scene they're in Caddyshack with is the shed scene when he goes to Carl Spackler's shed. And then asks if he can take a drop after the cannonball. Okay. Yeah.

I'll take your word for it. There you go. See, Connor? He's asleep at the wheel. More catty shack talk here on Sports Talk 790. Oh, we could make it four hours. No, I'd rather not. 713-212-5-7-90, the phone number.

We've been talking a lot of Texans. We will switch into Astros mode coming up at the top of the hour. Our tribute to one, King Kyle Tucker, gone but not forgotten. It happened at the end of the show on Friday, and we talked about it and the moves that were made, but we haven't really fully exploited. on this program, even though the A team had it fall right in their lap 15 minutes before they were on, but that's okay. We'll talk about it coming up at 11 o'clock. We're still talking a little

bit of Texans and just where we're feeling about the state of the team. So as I mentioned, I put out the tweet yesterday. Texans beat the dolphins 20 to 12, how we feel in. Sean says, okay, I guess, a win is a win. O line still stinks. Now it was four sacks given up on Sunday, one by Blake Fisher, one, somebody in the interior, I think, I can't remember. And then a couple of the sacks were on C.J. Stroud, he just held the ball too long. So overall, that's not horrible. No, it wasn't horrible.

I mean, and they gave him decent enough time to be able to throw the football. I mean, that's something that you can actually point to and say, okay, that's cool. But yet again, I mean, it's another Sunday that you struggle to run the football. I mean, really struggled to run the football. You know, in terms of their yards, who the leading rusher was yesterday? Yes, Dario Gumbowalai. On a play. One carry.

He had their highest average yards per carry as well. Dude, like, there was a little part of me that was kind of like, oh, please let this be a fumble. Because if it is, that's the most Texans thing of 2024 ever of, hey, it's awesome. Look at that. Oh, we got a game changing play. Arm was down. And it was. So, I mean, like, I'm glad that his arm was down.

but it was just like also too it's just like as soon as you saw the scrambling for the football immediately i think i even said it out loud i just go of course like of course yeah and that's it's funny because i was uh i was actually at a sports bar watching the game and there was somebody that i didn't just a stranger we were talking about the game and he was like every time man every week it's always got to be something we're saying the same thing when dario gungbo wallie fumbled that ball it's like they always have to make it interesting on us it has to be a heart attack game every single week with these Houston Texans. It's going to say, I mean, aside from the New England game this year,

we haven't had very many where we could say, that was fun. That was, you know, you get Davis Mills at the end of the game. The New England game, and that's basically it. That is the only game. Because every other one, you've had to kind of sweat it out. Yeah. You've had to sweat it out, but they've won nine of them.

And this defense, I think, is going to keep you in a lot of games. Every game. Not every game. There's going to be games where maybe they're not able to do it, you're going to give up some points. It happens in the NFL. But as I said, you're nine and five. You beat the bills by a field goal.

You lost the Lions by a field goal. We'll see what happens with the Chiefs. Unfortunately, it's not going to be the real test you were hoping for if it is going to be Pat Mahomes. Although it's not like the Texans are going to be 10-point favorites in this one. It's like two and a half now with the expectation that Carson Wins is going to make the start. So we'll see where they are. They're in this kind of pack of good, not great. but it's better being there than not.

I feel like the way the talk and discourse with this team for being nine and five and clinching the division with three weeks remaining, I feel like we've got to have a little more positivity, folks, for these Houston, Texas. Well, I mean, and you touched on it too

of, you know, the reason why you can still feel good about this team is because of the defense. I think the other reason as well is CJ Stroud, I think, still has his best games in front of them. And, you know, he's... I hope. I mean, and if he does, then that's really good for this team. But, I mean, let's just take the two quarterbacks we saw yesterday.

He against Tua. Tua basically just said, ah, screw it. I'm just going to throw it. And you saw what happened. CJ had only one of those. It was a third down. He's rolling out to his right towards the dolphin's sideline. And he kind of threw it across his body a little bit.

And, I mean, it wasn't like it was necessarily in danger of getting picked off. But as soon as he threw that, I was like, he is incredibly lucky right there. that ball should have been picked. Yeah. He had a couple of turnover worthy throws there, did C.J. Stroud. So things could have gone worse, but the Texans converted their turnovers, picking off two or three

times, four turnovers to one, allowing you to win the game, and now you're nine and five, and although you haven't been blowing out a lot of teams, as I mentioned, even in the games you lost, on the road to the Packers, field goal game, field goal game to the Lions at home,

and field goal game win to the bills. Outside of the Viking game very early. They've stuck with just about everyone, although that Jets game was ugly. But the fact of the matter is, they've lost, I mean, excuse me, one three out of the last four. We'll see what happens this weekend

against the chiefs. All right, 713, 212-5-790 is the phone number. We had a couple of on hold who hung up if you want to get back in. You can. 7-13-212. 5-790. Final farewell to Kyle Tucker, who has been traded away that is coming up

next here on Sports Talk 790. Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. Only one of the 13 homers he's allowed this year. Been to a left-hand hitter, 2-0. And Tucker belts it deep down the right field line. Ball is hooking if it stays fair. It's gone, and it is gone.

Three-run jack for Kyle Tucker, number 30 for number 30. And the Astros lead is 5 to nothing. 1-2. Tucker hits it in the air pretty deep to right-center field. Brown is going back on the warning track looking up. See you later! Into the Astros bullpen. Career home run number 100 for Kyle Tucker. And the Astros lead is 6 to nothing.

Tucker's 27th of the year. Mancini playing behind the runner at first. He goes, and the pitch is lifted to right by Cassiano's. Long run for Tucker over toward the line and foul territory. Mix the catch and the Houston Astros. Do it again. World Series champions. For the second time in six years,

the Astros are baseball's best. Three-time All-Star, gold, glover, silver slugger, finished fifth, in the MVP voting in 2023 125 home runs as a

Houston Astro and now he is a Chicago Cub Dan Matthews and I don't feel that sad about it if I'm being honest I was going to say I mean I know that Brian McTaggart

put out his own instapole on Twitter and I believe that 53 to 47% said that they like the Tucker trade. Yeah, you can like the Tucker trade, and I think it is the right move. If you're not going to go and pay and keep up with the Joneses that are the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, and I am so sorry fans who are out there on Twitter and calling Jim Crane cheap, which is just not true.

Jim Crane's not going to be able to keep up with those Joneses and keep spending and spending and spending. He's got to be smart about it. They have to flip guys like Kyle Tucker who are going. away and going to get mega huge contracts for prospects and players that you can place at the major league level, which they got. This was the right deal. You can't afford Alex Bregman. You're going to be priced out of his market.

You don't want to continue to go over the luxury tax because that's just not feasible for a team in the market the size of the Houston Astros. So it is what it is. Unfortunately, in a perfect world, I would want him to pay everyone too, but he can't do it. So Kyle Tucker has to be traded away. I'm almost actually, it's not almost. I am on the other side when it comes to Bregman.

It's, if this thing gets into January, I think it's advantage Astros at that point. Assuming that you don't go through and pull off the trade for Nolan Aeronado, you pull off the trade for Aeronado. That's out the window. It's done. But as of right now, I mean, you would feel good with Eatsok Paredes over at third base because that is his primary position. And, oh, by the way, too, you know, I brought this up on. the Saturday show. I talked about it

with a buddy of mine who covered him in Tampa and said he's actually a way better fielder than people giving credit for. So, I mean, that's the other part of it as well, is that everybody, oh man, we're losing the glove over at third base. Maybe not so much. And Aronado, you're definitely not. You've got a perennial gold glover.

It's been talked about. We'll see if that happens. Well, he's also, I mean, well past his prime is Nolan Aronado. But we'll see. He's on the declining side. I would still say he gives you, he gives you Bregman production over at third. I guess I would have to look

at the old wins above replacement or defensive metrics and stuff like that. So, I mean, last year, he definitely took a deal. So he's on the decline, like Alex Bregman. So both of them, you know, we'll see, you know, it's in an exact science. We'll see where both of them are going. But he is a couple of years older is Nolan Aronado.

OPS plus of 101 for Nolan Aronado. So he's just above average, right? With 100 being average, he is one percent above average. I want to say Breggman was like 112 or something like that or 13 somewhere in the neighborhood. So what are we necessarily talking about that? We're talking about

I mean we're talking about there'll be a slippage in production but also a slippage in money committed unless you know I was wrong. 118 OPS plus for good old Alex Breggman. So that to me significantly better there when you compare the two teams, the two

players there offensively and then Alex Breggman with the gold glove. So according to baseball reference, let's see, 2.5, good old wins above replacement for him. And then for Alex Bregman, it was 4.1. So almost not quite double the production from Alex Regg, by that singular metric, which of course some people can call flawed, which I mean, it's not perfect for sure. It's just one data point. I mean, you know, just getting back to the Tucker trade and what you're. get in return. You know, me and Gordy had

Bruce Levine on from 670 to score in Chicago, covers the Cubs, baseball analyst for them. And he seemed to believe that the part of the trade that the Cubs were kind of like, man, this is going to hurt, was Cam Smith. There's belief in that organization that he can be a star in this league,

that they believe he can have plus power and, I mean, somebody that can really be a cornerstone of your organization piece. Well, that sounds good. instantly became there, according to MLB pipeline, he went from the seventh best prospect in the Cubs system, the number one for the Houston Astros. That's the thing, man. I mean, look,

where the Astros have drafted, and also to a couple of years where you didn't have high draft picks, so that's kind of hurt you a little bit, and they're trying to play catch up in that regard. I mean, yeah, that's a part of it as well. You've got to be able to have reinforcements coming. And for the most part, in the minor league system,

the Astros don't have that. No, they don't. So, I mean, for the future health of this team, for the, for Getting, I mean, getting the prospect back Cam Smith and Isok Paredes, who can help you at the major league level. We'll see what happens with the pitcher who was traded with the Houston native. What was his name? Hayden Wisniewski. Hayden Wesniewski is the pitcher here. And he was tweeting out Texans flags yesterday.

So he's all in on Houston, baby. If you go on his Twitter account, he's all about the Texans. That's what I love. He was on the golf course when he got the call of, hey, buddy. Can he play left guard? I don't believe he can play left guard. He can throw a mean sweeper. Okay.

Yeah, that works. So he's got that. I mean, so that's good. For Davis and Mills. So you're saying he can throw, he can throw harder than C.J. Stroud probably. So maybe he's got a chance over Keaton's Lovis off the practice squad. Maybe that's a possible. Maybe we'll put him in.

All right. So to me, a necessary move, not surprising. I honestly don't feel that bad about it. Maybe because mentally I'd been checked out with Kyle Tucker that he had been, is not going to factor into the future of the Houston and Astros. I don't know exactly why, but it sucks from a, you know, you're talking about trading away an all-star player, a guy who can basically do it all. He's a 30-30 threat and a gold glove caliber in right field.

But it was the right move for the organization moving forward. Well, I mean, it's the right move for not only this year, but also to setting you up for an opportunity going forward. I mean, what is giving him a qualifying offer? He declines it. You get a draft pick for it. What does that necessarily do for you? It helps you three years down the road? Four years. There you go. I mean, if you're, see, people look at, I think, the wrong way. And you just kind of let into it right there. If you don't make this trade, then you do have to do the hard reset. If you do make this trade, then you're really just shuffling things around to keep yourself in contention at the moment.

And that's what they did. Yeah, we'll see what happens going forward. To me, Bregman is still gone. We'll see what happens with the Aronado thing that has been floated out as a possible trade that the Astros are making. We'll see what happens when the whole offseason shakes out. But right now, I'm happy with what Dana Brown got. I think it was a good return for the asset that is Kyle Tucker. You've got, I mean, a prize prospect now in your system and a couple of guys that help you in the major league level. How funny is it, too, I mean, you could probably, you know,

with the baseball circles out there in terms of, you know, did you win the trade? And everybody was killing him, crushing him for the USAACCacucci trade. And this one, people are doing the opposite. They're like, damn, how did you get all that for that? And at the end of the day, USA Kikuchi trade ended up the right move. I mean, we'll see what happens with Loporfito, Blas, and Wagner, but you had to do something. You want, what was it, nine out of ten games you won that Kukuchi started down the stretch.

You don't make the playoffs. They were, I believe, 500 in games that he didn't start. So, I mean, you don't even, you might not even win the division down the stretch if you say Kukuchi didn't do what he did for the Astros at the end of that season of the 24 campaign. By the way, a wild rumor that fans are pushing to see. You know there's a free agent out there pitching-wise, right? Who? Chuck Morton. I was like, do not say Trevor Bauer on this station.

No, God, no. He's not coming back, folks. I do not need the recording plate on me. I'm good with that. Although, you know, with the music playing in the background, it is quite catchy. I do like it. But no, I mean, somebody threw out Charlie Morton

and he's at least... What's he? 40 years old now? he's still relatively effective. All right. Bring back Chuck. I like Charles Morton. He was fun to interview. He was like really super like introspective and quiet and like philosophical. Hey man, how was your off season?

You know, these things, we have a finite amount of time on this earth. And I try to make sure that I maximize what I'm doing both in my personal life and professional life. And these few times that we have left before we leave this. All right, Charles, like calm down. I've got my hand in the motion of like, you know, in a scrum. And he's one of those that, you know, you're in a scrum. He's answering the question. And he is an ultimate pauser.

And he pauses. You kind of pull back the microphone a little bit. But then my curveball. He's thoughtful. Yeah. He is. He's thinking. He will give you a three-minute answer, whether you like it or not.

It is coming. That's why I always like Charlie Morton. All right. Time for a quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas. Dan Matthews is in. y'all want to get in. We can still talk some Texans. We're talking some Astros baseball. Kyle Tucker move. What was your initial reaction? How are you feeling now? Some people are still upset calling Jim Crane cheap. I say, you know what? It's just the cost of doing business. You got to give to get. And Kyle Tucker being traded away helps this organization long term. 713-212-590 is the phone number. 713-212-5-790 on the Matt Thomas show with Ross.

More Matt Thomas show with Ross. Now on Sports Talk 790. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas show with Ross. You were hearing Christmas music because this is also without Matt Thomas, who hates Christmas music. And that hates fun. That scrooge is out of here, all right? We're playing it.

I don't care. At least until I am gone. I know. Well, I'll be gone the Thursday and Friday of this week. Matt Thomas will be. back then. It'll be the passing of the baton. At least one of us will be here holding it down, I guess. Chances are I'll be

here too, so, I mean, I believe. Tim and Texas City, I'm sure that probably excites you. Who's Chandler Rome within on Friday? Wex. Okay. I think he'll be Rome Talk 790 coming up. We get a lot of Chandler Rome here. Who needs Astroline when he got

Chandler Rome on for eight hours with you? If you want to get the real dirt, that's what you do. Chandler, I got to tell you, though, too. I mean, obviously, you know, his day-to-day job is covering the Astros. He says he's doing four with Matt. Chandler-Rom is. And then Wex, he'll be on with after.

Okay. That's good. So I guess it's going to be a full day here. So if you're Chandler... My God. You're hoping that news or if it does, then that could be interesting, though, too. Because then he could be like, hey, guys, I got to step out. I got to write out this story. He could break news on the air here on Sports Talk 780.

He's Mr. Preparation. So I've got to believe that probably he's already got some pre-writes. out there. I got some in the drafts. I was going to say, there's some stuff in the drafts. He should have that going in the drafts.

Maybe throw in a couple of details, but aside from that, it's good to go, it's ready. Will the Aeronado trade break live on 790 on the air? Make sure you're tuning in a Friday here on Sports Talk 790. I will have Chris Gordy in on Wednesday, and tomorrow

special guest Brian Bogosavik. Bogey on from 10 to noon here on Sports Talk 790, so happy to have him in. I love Boogie. he's a great guy. He also, he talks like Tim Tebow. Watch a video of Tim Tebow talking and then sit here with Bogey and you're going to be like, wow, Dan's kind of right. I guess they're not too dissimilar. It's the way you say it. I can picture it in my head.

But Brian Bogusag will be here tomorrow. We'll be getting full breakdown of the Kyle Tucker trade. Get his opinion. What your opinion on it as well, 713, 212-5-790. The phone number, 7-1-3-212-5-790. I know it broke on Friday, but we didn't have a whole lot of time to talk about it. it on the show just one segment here. So definitely want to get your thoughts, how we're feeling about this trade. And really the direction moving forward with the Astros,

of course, if they have emerged as a serious contender for the services of one Nolan Aronado. I mean, it's one of those that it really just kind of comes down to dollar and cents because the Aronado trade, I think probably you look at it and you say, all right, if we do this, then possibly the Santander option is still out there, By the way, too, you saw the report over the weekend about Sontan Dair. He's looking for a five-year deal. Who gives out five-year deals like it's nobody's business?

The Yankees? Well, this place does. This place loves five-year deals. Well, they love it under five years. There you go. Five years is their max. If he's looking for just a five-year deal, then the Astros can accommodate. You want over five years, we're going to go ahead and trade you away for prospects.

Or we're just kind of flat-out let you go. Which I think is what's going to happen, of course, with Alex Spragman, to be determined. I mean, I've said it. And, you know, I know you do gut feelings tomorrow that if I could have a preemptive gut feeling, it's that this thing gets to January. And provided you have not traded for Nolan Aeronado, because obviously you do that, then that's out the window. But if it gets to January, I like the Astros' chances.

What makes you think now, of course, maybe I've been out of tune. It felt like everything was supposed to, we kept on seeing tweets. Now it hasn't happened from everybody like things heating up. Alex Bregman expecting decision expected soon on Alex Bregman. Now they got out of the winter meetings and nothing was done. We thought maybe it was going to happen there. But do you think it continues to drag out the next few weeks? It's seeming like it is because, I mean, if that were really the case,

then why wouldn't a huge offer it had already been made and why wouldn't it have been accepted? I think there's hemming and hauling from Boston. There's himming and hauling from the Yankees or even the Mets. I mean, you talked about the big spenders. You've got to obviously consider the Mets with what they just did with Juan Soto. And, I mean, Detroit has been a possibility. So if that's the case, then why hasn't it already been done? Yeah, Bob Nightingale over the weekend,

Yankees expected to put on a full court press to sign Bregman and move jazz chisholm to second base and what would be their latest big move since losing Juan Nisota to the New York Mets in the free agency. And a part of me is kind of rooting for that to happen. And here's why. Because for Brian Cashman to do all of his grandstanding, and posturing and everything he's done about 2017.

And then you're going to get a guy that was a cornerstone of that team that you've continuously dogged and you've continuously downgraded their championship that season. But then all of a sudden, oh, he's so great for our team. Oh, he's the missing piece. He's exactly what this clubhouse needs. I mean, I'm not saying that Bregman was necessarily involved one way or another in it. But, I mean, if you're going to do all of that, that basically is get ready, Connor. that basically is Hans Gruber and Diehard

doing all of his grandstanding and everything he did when all it was was about those damn bonds that were in the vault. That's all it was about. You didn't think you were going to get a Hans Gruber reference today, but you did. I also have a... Holly McLean called him out for it, Holly Janero. But, I mean, you know,

actually she went by Janero professionally, but then at the end when John tried to introduce her, she said, Holly McLean. Oh, that's beautiful. and then diehard 2 they still weren't back together though right i think they were no actually no no i think they were back i i believe diehard 4 she'd become a nun and she joined the catholic church because remember in die hard 2 the uh the the counter girl at the airport tries to flirt with

john and ask if he wants to go grab a drink and he kind of all right damn he starts he starts to like show hey i'm married i'm a taken man all right so no one aranato for the ask It's funny to me. Well, I guess he's not making a lot of money towards the end of the deal, and he's only going to be paid until he's 36. But if you sign Alex Breggman to a six or seven-year deal, you're paying him until he's 37. So you don't want to pay Alex Breggman until he's 37,

but you'll pay Nolan Aronado until he's 37. You'll pay Justin Verlander until he's 40, 41, and you'll pay, I mean, you'll pay Jose Abray you until he's 37, 38. It's funny to me. If I'm not mistaken, I think that also a part of the deal, too, from at least a couple of the reports I've read, is that the Astros kind of want

the Cardinals to go the route of what the Mets did with. We have to pay downs of cash. But then also, though, too, you know that the trade-off with that is, you're going to have to part with a couple of prospects you don't want to do. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Make this, philosophically, how does this make sense? What am I

missing? You don't want to pay Alex Bregman until he's old. That's fine, but you're going to trade for an old third basement and it's going to cost you prospects? Well, I mean, I think that it's no great scenario one way or the other. And that's where the Astros are just because of where their prospect ranking is and everything else in terms of what you can offer to teams. But it's also too at the same time. You have to look at it from this perspective. You trade Bregman.

Chandler-Rome said it numerous times. That is the off-season move. whereas I think if you make this trade or say you bring in Jorge Polanco, then you're still in position to be able to bring in a guy like Anthony Santander. That's a possibility. Okay. Well, I guess we'll see. I haven't seen the latest like the payroll projections for the Astros and see what happens.

If they do get a Polanco who was awful at the plate this year or Santander who was, well, not good himself, but maybe the Astros can save him and bring him back and turn his career back around to where it was. Oh, no, no, Santander was really good. Sorry, I'm getting confused with Polanco and others. You really liked it in here, too. I'm curious to see where all this goes. That's all I'm saying. But it seems like they still want to contend then.

And rather than the hard reset that we were possibly talking about, with trading away Frommber, with Trading Away Tucker. Jim Crane is going to stay true to his word, it seems like, and say the window is open as long as I am the owner of this team, if they're going to move and get all on Aronado, if they're going to make a move for Santander as well. All right, we're going to take a quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross, without Matt Thomas.

Coming up at 12, D'Amico Ryans will be speaking to the media. We'll get in that. So that is going to push back the news at noon to the news at noon plus 15 minutes. We'll get to that as well. In the meantime, you want to get in, you can. How are we feeling about the direction of the Astros? All this moving and shuffling and where is everything going to shake out? Are they going to contend again?

What do you think they should go with as far as the direction of the franchise? 713-212-5-790 is the phone number to get in. 7-13-212-790. It is the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas with you until 2 p.m. Hey, it's Daly Green. Catch, shoot, that's a triple. Here, every rock is going. On the go with the Iheart radio

At an exclamation point! You got the home of the Rockies. Sports Talk 790. Welcome back to a Christmas edition of the Matt Thomas show with Ross

without Matt Thomas. Connor McGover is enjoying spinning the hits back there. You're having yourself a good time, aren't you, Connor? Aren't you happy that the Scrooge Matt is out and I'm allowing you to spin your Christmas records? Yeah, it's better. Yeah, I know. It's putting me in a better mood. Not that I was in a bad mood, I guess.

It's a good pick-me-up on a Monday. There's no doubt. That's why I loved when you had Gordy in here with you. And you all were talking about Gordy. I'm not familiar. Yeah, it's, he's a guy that's our program director. That's true. I should be nice. Love Chris Gordy. He is the best. Go Saints and LSU Tigers. And you guys were talking about Baby It's Cold Outside. Yes. And like the re-release version of Baby It's Cold Outs. outside.

Baby, it's cold outside. May I walk you with, we will stream this video to your mother to make sure everything is okay. And also on the stream, we have the police department just in case, and we're recording it. Seems like a lot, but, you know, it's necessary. Certain times call for certain measures. Also, baby, would you sign this consent form? All right. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number.

We're going to go to Domingo. Ryan's coming up talking some Texans. He will be speaking. I'm interested to see what he has. to say about Joe Mixon, although I'm also a feared it's just going to be yeah, we're evaluating Joe and we'll keep you updated throughout the week.

Domingo's like any coach. It's if I don't have to tell you about the injury. See, most coaches would almost just assume not even acknowledge that there's going to be a game that weekend. Are we even playing? I don't know. Is there a game on Saturday? Yes,

there is. So Texans in their first stretch, is it three games in 11 days, I believe? They're going to play on Saturday. then they're going to play on Wednesday, and then they're going to play, well, not till the following. I can't remember. It doesn't matter.

I mean, I think it's this stretch right here where it's so many games and so many days. And then, yeah, you get from that Wednesday all the way to the final Thursday, or Sunday of the regular season, and then you're ready for the playoffs. On Christmas Day, on Netflix, we don't care about player safety.

It's Wednesday night football here on Netflix. All right, 713, 2,1,25, 790 is the phone number. Eric has been waiting patiently. Eric, what's up? Hey, Ross. I'm having a problem this morning with you having a problem with going with Aeronado over Bregman. Aronado is owed $74 million over the next three years. That's a, I mean, he had an OPS within 50 points of Bregman this year. Bregman's not the same guy he was about five years ago. Aeronado is essentially who Bregman is today. I think we move on. We've dealt with Scott Boress in the past. It's not gone well for us. Get rid of.

rid of Bregman and bring back Zach Brinkie. Oh, see, Eric. This is why I knew your take was going to be bad from the beginning. OPS Plus, though, was 118 versus 101. So while the OPS numbers was just 50, of course, that corrects for, say, the ballparks and stuff like that. So from an OPS plus standpoint, Arnato was one point above average. Breggman was 18 points above average, and he's younger. Say again?

But he hit 210 in the months of April. May, which is essentially why we ended up in that Detroit series. Alex Breggman started the season slow. Stop me if you've heard that before. That's just what he does, Eric. That's for whatever reason he's curse on Eric in April and May. But he closed the season very strongly. He hit 26

bombs. Arnaudal, let's see, 16 bombs. So, look, I understand not wanting to pay Bregman to a long-term contract, but then doing that and trading away prospects, for Nolan Aronado, who's not as good as

Alex Bregman. That's where I kind of scratch my head, Eric. All right, well, thanks for taking my call. All right. Zach Grinch. Yeah, appreciate it. Yeah, that's the... We have a couple of callers here on the Matt Thomas show that are in the

the Zach Grinky Club. Now, I don't know if it's better or worse than the Jake Myers fan club, but we don't have to discuss that, but the Zach Grinky fan club, for whatever reason, loves calling this show. I think I heard somebody this morning say that Jake Myers was a five-tool player, and I'll like,

I'm not. Do they know what the five tools are? I was going to say arm is a part of it. I would say, not there. Hitting for better average. Not there.

Hitting for power. I mean, 13 bombs is decent, but that's not hitting for power, so he doesn't have that tool. I was going to say, I mean,

he hits for decent enough power, but it's not, yeah. And then what is it? Speed on the base paths and speed defensively or something? I can't remember the five tools. He is by,

you know, you're a big metrics guy. Wex is a big metrics guy. I mean, I think he's elite in terms of the ground. he can cover and what he's able to give you out in the center field, but you know as well as anybody. There's a runner on third, less than one out, or one out, less than two outs.

There you go. And they've got a chance to be able to score on a sacrifice fly. They're going. And that's a huge product of his arm. Let's see. Fielding ability. Throwing arm strength is average. Speed, good.

He's a two tool player. We'll go with that for Jake Myers. That is great. He's a serviceable Major League Baseball player. Now, the fan club was founded upon Jake Myers, not being an all-star, but being a guy who can get you like 15-ish bombs, hit for a little average and play good center field. Now, he hasn't hit all the boxes, unfortunately.

The fan club has been disappointed, but we still support our guy, Jake, and hope that he can be better in the future. Clearly, he's going to get some more opportunities in center field for the Astros. This is the way they're constructing their team. Ideally, he would be a platoon option for you out. He's a fourth outfielder, defensive replacement type of guy. I thought he was going to be a little bit better than that when he came up, but he had that major shoulder injury. Just hasn't seemed to have been the same, although last year was a bit of an improvement for him, at least starting off the season,

but he went super cold at the bat the last couple of months. I was going to say, I mean, if you could have been able to tap into the month of May as much as possible, because if I'm not mistaken, I think in the month of May, he took his average over 300, and you're kind of like, okay, maybe. I didn't think that was going to stay. Maybe there's something here, but then, yeah, he was hitting 300. with an OPS over 9-0. It's like, this is not going to stand, but maybe he can stay at like 750, and then he just plummeted. You at least hope so, but soon enough, not anymore.

Yeah, speaking of our good friend OPS Plus, 100 being league average. At the end of the year, Jake Myers had a worse season than the year before 83. I mean, that's horrible. That's horrible. And I was hoping he would be around, basically the fan club wants him around 100, 105, and then he can play Gold Glove caliber center field. But, the bat is just not keeping up with everything else. But 1.7 wins above replacement. That's decent. It's not good. But.

And it's again, I mean, you know, the ideal world. Because, I mean, you feel like the Astros are probably, they need two more bats this offseason. Whoever is going to be whatever your option is at third base, if you decide to go with neither, Aronado or Bregman, then that means Paredes is over at third. and then I think you then shuffle over to first base.

Although, I mean, Dana, early on in the off season, it talked about the possibility of a platoon option over there at first base because, I mean, I think the kind of the look at it is, look, we're already paying a guy that we're not even using all this money. Are we really going to pay somebody else a good amount of money? That is going to play that. Because if you pay somebody to play first base, you're not going to have a platoon.

Singleton can start every once in a while, but you don't need it. it. Jonathan Singleton? That Jonathan Singleton? That's the platoon right there. All right, we're going to take a break. And by the way, too, all of this, oh, we need a left team at bat. Do you realize what ballpark you play most of your games in? It'd be right. Right hander's not too bad. Stop with all this matchup stuff. It's ridiculous. You go off with a lefty bat. There's not anybody that goes up to the plate. That's a lefty facing a lefty says, oh man, this guy's a lefty. I've got no

shot. That factors in none. Like, I'm just so sick and tired of these managers who continuously will, we like the matchup. If it's a right-handed guy that's one of her, that's a pretty good hitter, then fine. Send a right-handed guy up there and have him hit. Well, I understand why you don't play all your games at home, so I understand why you

would want maybe just to mix it up a little bit. Pedro, this is not nice, Pedro. Jake Myers' five tools are not shovel, chisel, hammer, drill, and screwdriver. That's rude. He plays baseball, okay? He's not a mechanic yet. All right. We're going to take a break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross, with

Dan Matthews without Matt Thomas. That is a mouthful. And coming up at noon, we will hear from your head coach of your Houston Texans, D'Miko Ryan's. What's he going to have to say about Joe Mixin and other things? We will find out. In the meantime, you can get in as well. At 713-212-5-790. 7-13-212-5-790. More Matt Thomas show with Ross. Now on Sports Talk 790.

We're spinning the hits. Christmas style here on Sports Talk 790. Have yourself a merry little Christmas. I'm cheating. I can see the countdown. Welcome back to what is this? This is the Matt Thomas show. Yeah, it still is. I don't know what's happening. Dan Matthews is here. Connor Montgomery going with the deep cuts. Are you playing this off of vinyl?

Connor? It's a classic. I think I heard the needle scratch right there. Break out the Vitrola machine and we'll get the Judy Garland on. All right. Sounds good. I love it. I like the old hits. No problem with me. Oh, no. When it comes to the Christmas classics, I mean, yeah, you got to go with Bing. You got to go with Sinatra.

Uh-huh. A little Burl Ives, if you will. And also, too, Nat King Cole. Matt King Cole, the greatest Christmas song of all time. Christmas song by Nat King Cole. in my personal opinion. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number if you'd like to get in here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas. He is out. He'll be back on Thursday.

I will be here till Wednesday and then I will be a passing of the baton. I'm here till Wednesday. Matt Thomas is out and then he'll be back Thursday, Friday when I will be out. Yeah, I'm back with him on Monday. So Monday to Monday is. As you know, and as I live through it myself, a lot of extra hours worked. during the holidays with people taking their time off, Dan. I'm part of that and I would like to personally apologize to you.

No, it's fine. It's all good. I mean, you know, next week too with Christmas, I'll be in with Salisbury a couple of days. I've already asked for one day, hey, can one day be from my house? Can I do it from the house one day? I like that. Make a stand. I was going to say, I mean, you know, getting up because, I mean,

it's going to be the day after the holiday. The 26th is one of them. and that's the one that I asked for, hey, can I be out of studio that day, do it from the house? You're going to be wrapping presents? I've already wrapped a couple. Okay, that's good. There will be a couple of more, which, by the way, I need to go to the Amazon locker and pick up at least one for the lady. So I got an etiquette question for you.

So I bought presents for most of my family from Taiwan and Korea on my trip, and I brought back stuff for like my nieces, my parents, my brother. And I was supposed to give them to them, but it's been a couple of weeks. and I haven't been able to give anybody. Should I just save them and make them Christmas presents? No, absolutely. You make them Christmas presents for sure. Hey, guess what? Your souvenir from Korea and Taiwan has now become your Christmas present.

Dude, economic times are hard. Absolutely. You've got to make the most of your presents here. Trust me. That trip was not cheap, all right? No, and that's the thing too. I mean, cheese sandwiches for the next two months because of that trip. Hey, I mean, if they can't appreciate you being able to get them something that they cannot, for the most part, get on an everyday basis,

then that is what counts. You gave it and hopefully they receive it well. Yeah, we'll see how that goes. All right, anyways, what were we talking about? Nolan Aronado. How is he going to be? Alex Breggman. Where are the Astros right now?

Are they? Because we talked about them being World Series contenders year after year to year. There was some slippage last year. Thankfully, you were in the weakest division in baseball, so you were able to win it with 88 games. You've already traded away Kyle Tucker. In all likelihood, you're going to be losing Alex Breggman.

Those are probably two of your best five players on this team last year. You're trying to get some of that back, perhaps with an Aeronautot trade, perhaps with the Santander signing, but that hasn't happened yet. Where are we? Where are we if we're the Houston Astros and your Dana Brown and Jim Cranwell? You're two bats away from getting back to that point. I mean, that's what you are. Because this was an incredibly top heavy lineup last year. Being able to win the AL West and get into the postseason. Okay. But not from being a favorite in the American League, or do you think?

Do you think the American League is that much weaker with Juan Soto leaving the Yankees? Oh, absolutely they are. And I say that much more winnable. I mean, it depends on what the Yankees do, which I mean, it sounds like, like you said, that Bregman is a possibility there. Sounds like they are the odds on to be able to get Cody Bellinger, which would effectively replace what you lost, not with the production, but you would be able to at least have a good middle of the order hitter in that lineup. And also, too, I mean, let's look at what that Yankees team was. when Judge and Soto hit, they won. When they didn't, they lost.

And you saw that in the World Series. I mean, you had Aaron Judge fall completely off the face of the planet. And that's why that matchup against the Dodgers was so one-sided. It's because you'd think that this lineup is top-heavy. That one's incredibly top-heavy. So, no, you're a mover to away from being able to still be competitive. And there's no reason you make those moves that you're not in contention to make it to the LCS again. The odds apparently in Vegas agree.

Favorites in the American League. New York Yankees are 3 to 1. Astros and Orioles are tied next at 5 to 1 to win the American League. Then you go down to the Guardians and Mariners and Rangers all put the twins in there. Those two teams all 12 to 1 as far as odds to win the American League. The American League penned. There's not anybody out there that you necessarily look at and say, oh, man.

like the Astros had a strangle hold on it for the longest time. There's a reason why when those odds came out, they were not only odds on to win the World Series. They were far and away the best option out of the American League because you didn't have anybody that could necessarily compete with you. But now, I mean, it is a little bit more of a level playing field with those teams. I mean, Cleveland, do they take a step back? You trade away Andrez Jimenez.

So, I mean, if Astros fans think it's bad here, I mean, the San Diego Padres in the National League, they're talking about maybe trading Dylan's six. and other parts of that team last year. What the hell are the Mariners doing? Like, if you're a Mariners fan right now looking at Jerry DePoto and you're seeing rumors, they might trade Luis Castillo and that the Red Sox are inquiring about one of their other top starters, I don't know if that's George Kirby or somebody else in that rotation.

But if you're a Mariners fan, I think you're looking at Jerry DePoto saying, what are you doing? Like, seriously, what are you doing? This lineup was terrible last year, and you've done nothing to try to improve this lineup and make it even better. Yeah, I think it just seems to me Luis Castillo would be traded away. How many more years is he under control? So one more or two more?

It would be a scenario where Hmm. No, I'm sorry, it's Looks like he's under contract for three more years. So they did pay him. They extended him. Yeah, they extended him. I think it was right around the time

that they extended Julio Rodriguez. Okay. So he is going to be 32 next year, making $24 million a year. Why are they trying to trade him away? What? See, I mean, and the funny thing is, they're trying to limit payroll that much in Seattle? Are they that cheap?

Here's the other thing as well, is the team that none of us are talking about. Who's to say that the Oakland A's don't take, or excuse me, the Sacramento, whatever they are, the A's ball club, or what, you get my point. But they're kind of in that position again where they've been away for about a couple, three years and then all of the sudden

oh, they're in contention to win this thing. Yeah, but they don't normally do that. Well, I guess they could do it with a trade. You're talking about them trading for Castillo or what? I mean, not even trading for Castillo. They already done it with Luis Severino. They don't give out that type of deal. And they did. No, they don't normally do.

They tried to go after Max Fried and they tried to go after Walker Bueller. I know that Max Freed, for example, told them, yeah, I'm not playing in a minor league ballpark. That's not happening. Yeah, the Bronx or go play in Sacramento for 82 of my games. Yeah, I'm going to go to the Bronx. Yeah.

I'm not going to, I'm not going to peg the A's for first, but they probably, that's the most amount of free agent spending they're going to do for like three, the next three years, that Severino deal. But it's a precursor though with the A's because what they're trying to build up for is, I mean, we'll see what happens with Vegas. It seems like that's kind of on the rocks, but they're trying to be able to go into Las Vegas. If indeed that is where they end up landing with this team is ready to go. Like this is a competitive ball club. They're worth coming out to watch.

And you give a new market a winner that people actually want to pay attention to. All right. We've got to take a quick break here. When we come back, head coach of the Houston, Texas, D'emico Ryan's updates on Joe Mixon and more after the win yesterday to the Miami Dolphins. That's coming up here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. Lunch timers. This is the Matt Thomas'clock. Show.

12.1 on Sports Talk 790. Hour number three of the Matt Thomas show. Without Matt Thomas, with Ross, with Dan Matthews, with Connemoghvern. We are awaiting, I mean, excuse me, Texans, not Rockets, Texans, head coach, D'emiko Ryan's going to be speaking to the media shortly. Texans get the win over the Miami Dolphins yesterday, 20 to 12. Now, at least there wasn't a ton of drum. at the end, I mean, the dolphins were going to be able to drive to tie it if they got a touchdown

and a two-point conversion. And then, well, to a tongue of a low, I turned the ball over for the third time in the game via a Derek Stingley pick his second of the game. So at least while they did make it close and we were hymn and haunt in that game, it wasn't one of those down to the final second heart attack games. They gave us 90 seconds of a reprieve to the Texans yesterday. day. Well, they did. I mean, it was also, too. I mean, you know, those final couple of drives that you had the dolphins back towards their own end zone. And, I mean, you get a holding penalty there. You

get a sack in there as well. So, I mean, able to get some good stuff from other guys up front disrupting. And then, yeah, Derek Stingley. I mean, was that the interception that was basically he ripped it away? It was. It was. Yes, it was. Because the one that was the dolphins driving to try to score a touchdown was when Stingley stepped in front. of it and caught it. Yeah. Just to me, I'm feeling, of course, shaky about the offense.

There's no reason not to be feeling that. Even though they get a couple of touchdowns, it was short feels. They didn't gain a whole lot of yards. They got out gained in this game, 224 to 181. C.J. Stroud did have two touchdowns and no picks, but it was only 131 yards on 26 attempts. The run game, there was not much to talk about. And Joe Mixing is hurt.

to what extent, hopefully we'll find out from Domingo Ryan's, although I wouldn't hold my breath on that, but this defense taking care of this Dolphins team that with two up back had won four out of their last five games. Their point totals in those games, 23, 34, 34,

17 against the Packers, not good, but then 32 against the Jets. I mean, they'd scored over 30 plus points and the lowest point total in that stretch was the 12 that they scored against the Texans yesterday. I mean, you were able to hold a pretty good offense with Tua back. I mean, you know, while he was out, you saw that this Dolphins team, man, I mean,

we think we know how this team is without our quarterback and you saw it. But you were able to hold a team from being able to take shots down the field and held them in check for the most part. I mean, while your offense, like you said, was not all that great, your defense still gave you an opportunity. All right, here's Coach Domingo, Ryan, speaking after the dolphins went. at Clinton and aFC South is huge for us. Great accomplishment by all of our guys is always our goal, right? You want to make it in the postseason. You have to win your division.

It starts there. And so we're just thankful for everyone who played a part in us, you know, reaching the first step of our goal. And that's getting in, credit to all of our guys and the work that they put in, the way they played yesterday was just outstanding to see them play that way, play complimentary football, the way to win games. And so very proud of our guys and proud to

win the AFC South. How do you approach the remainder of the regular season in terms of trying to improve so you hit the playoffs in stride and also there's some potential for seeding improvement? Yeah, for us we still take it one week at a time. Even though we've clenched the

AFC South, it still doesn't change our approach. When we line up and play, we're still trying to improve as a football team in all areas and try to play our best ball. when playoff time hit. So we're trying to still improve, still do our best. When you look at the film from yesterday,

what did you see with the offense, the changes you guys made up front? How do you think after looking at it, how do you think that worked? Yeah, really pleased with the offensive line and what they did yesterday really like the lineup that we had. First I'd like to think Titus, just he should get some love for a bit of unselfishly moving over inside

to the left guard position. And Blake coming in playing the most snaps that he's played, I think, you know, he had a good start there, and he still has room to grow and improve. But I think for his first time, his first outing there, he think he did a really good job. And just collectively, the group held up pretty well in protection, always things to clean up. But I was pleased with the O-line play, and we'll see where we can grow from there. Tomico, how do you think the by week, when you look back, the biweek helps CJ, bounce back.

He needed rest to his position to see if I got extra zip on the balls yesterday. Yeah, the biweek, the biweek definitely helped. Alan C.J. helped everyone. I think just being refreshed, energized. I think the energy was really good yesterday from our entire team. I think that's where the biweek helped us. We were still rolling there in the fourth quarter. It felt like we had the mental and physical stamina to finish the game the right way.

So I think it helped everyone. No, Joe Mixing took the little bank during the first half. How did he come out? Do you have any concern with him about Saturday? Yeah, Joe came out fine. He missed some time there, but he'll be fine. We've talked a lot about Steve Lee and Kahnlin yesterday. How pleased have you been with, we talked about Titus stepping up,

Jimmy stepping up and playing nickel for Jaylon when he went down? Yeah, Jimmy, you know, he hasn't blinked. Jimmy's been a great playmaker for us, and he's stepped in wherever we needed him to play, move him around a lot. He's thrived in whatever role. We've given him. The thing about Jim, he loves to play football.

You watch the tape. You watch him play. Like, he's all over the field, flying around, because he just loves to play football. Wherever he lines up, it really doesn't matter to him. Like, he just wants to be out there

and do anything he can to help the team win. Coach, from the outside looking at him, what did you see that made you so impressed by Tim Settled Jr., bringing the men knowing that he would fit into your defensive scheme? Yeah, what I saw from Tim, So, first of all, Tim's a young player.

Even though he's been in the league for a while, he's still a young player who's ascending. I saw a bigger defense alignment who has some explosive traits. They're really liked on film and just felt like getting him in our scheme would accentuate those traits even more. We would allow him to play an attack style of defense more and thought he would be really good at it. And Tim is, man, he's taken it and he's ran with it.

He's been a really great addition to our defense. defense. Great player to have. It's great energy. He keeps it light on the team and you need that. Tim knows I'd have a good time and he puts a smile on everyone. That's how everyone here is smiling. So I guess you guys know as well. But I just love the energy that he brings our entire team. I know Stingley has been good for you guys for a long time, but just how impressive was what he did there in that fourth quarter for you yesterday, getting two interceptions to kind of still the game? Yeah, that's, I mean, it's very impressive. Like I said, it's a play.

I haven't, it's very rare you see a player make a play that way to end the game. Like, that was all pro type plays like that's, that's what it looks like, you know, when you're one of the top guys of your position in the league, going up, matching it up against, you know, one of the best wideouts in the league as well. And to make the plays that he made, you know, can't say enough about how impactful Stingley has been throughout not only those plays on yesterday, but he's Stingley has been impactful throughout the entire year. I think from the past three wins, he's been our defensive player of the game. So when he's making impact plays, it's putting us in position to win football games.

You and CJA first coach and quarterback duo to win the division in their first two years together. So how have you reflected on that, on what you've been able to accomplish in such a short time and also what you're still trying to accomplish. Yeah, as we reflect on winning the division and back to back, we're grateful, we're thankful. You know, to be in a position we are. I'm thankful to work with the guys I get to work with on a day-to-day basis. That's what makes it special, the people that I work with,

and the way the guys show up every day to work with the right mindset, the right attitude. It makes it fun to work with these guys. And also we're always trying to do our best. trying to compete, win games, but you can do it with good people. That's when it means more. All right, there you go.

D'emico Ryans, back-to-back AFC South champions. Had some coach speak, taking it one game at a time, but of course a big takeaway from that. He said Joe Mixon is fine, or he's just, he's going to be fine. Yeah, he should be okay.

He should be okay. Is the words that he used. I guess we'll have to wait for practice reports and limited practice, no practice, all that type of stuff going forward. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this team, if they make the playoffs and Joe Mixen isn't playing, they're not going to win a playoff game. And they're certainly not going to the Super Bowl.

Any of the aspirations you have where you're going to be underdogs, but hey, you at least with this defense and with Joe Mixon have a shot against anyone in my mind. If Joe Mixon is not part of that equation, you're not going anywhere in this playoffs. I mean, more than likely, I mean, a good amount of these nine wins you have this year is because, of Joe Mixon. You're 5 and 2 when he rushes over 100, 1 and 2 when he doesn't. So there you go. And that one win was yesterday. Yeah.

Good for you. There you go. Okay. Joe Mixon sounds like good news there and we'll see how it goes along the week with the practice reports and stuff like that because obviously very necessary to have him for future success for the Texans as they take on the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. All right. You want to get in, talk some.

Texans. We're also talking some Astros. Anything you want to get to 713-212-5-790 is the phone number. Also coming up all the top sports news of the day. We call it news at noon because of Domingo-Rions. It's going to be that the news at noon plus 15 minutes

coming up next here on Sports Talk 790. More Matt Thomas show with Ross. Now on Sports Talk 790. And on Lequet, which he is. Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll.

Dang, Elvis, you didn't have to rile out the crowd like that. What now? All right. That's a movie reference, by the way, Connor. Go ahead and get the ding going. Ding. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas Show with Ross with Dan Matthews. And movie references abound.

Not a movie reference, but it rooted in fact. Elvis actually was quite a fan of the martial arts. Yeah, was it judo? or was it, I can't remember, was it Caratay? I think it was actually. I think it was actually straight up karate. Well, I think

wasn't Karim Abdul-Jabbar mixed up in that too? I think so. Didn't Karim try to, wasn't he the heavy in one of the Bruce Lee movies? Yes, yes he was. So,

hmm, so good for them. I think maybe Will Chamberlain didn't he do, I can't remember, I might be making this up. We'll get a tweet. Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt. No, I made that up.

We'll get a tweet. That'd be pretty impressive. All of those ideas. It's not going to make the news at noon, but it is a little bit afternoon because we had to bring you D'Amico Rines. But now what is going on in the sports world? Dan Matthews bring us the news just afternoon. All right, I'm not going to steal your bit. I told Matt that as much too.

You're not going to talk like this voice. No. Why not? It feels natural every time we go to this segment. I don't have the hair. I don't have the look. I don't have the suits. I don't have any of those things.

I just have my voice. Texans beat the dolphins yesterday. 20 to 12. get their record of 9 and 5 on this season. But the real story is what you heard brought up to Damiko Ryans during his press conference about 10 minutes ago. Broncos beat the Colts 3113. So what does that mean?

Texans are at 9 and 5. The Colts now have eight losses on this season. You beat the Colts twice, which means say the Texans were to lose out and finish 9 and 8 on the year. Hey, don't say that out loud. Well, but I'm just saying. But if it did happen and the Colts also won out,

well, there's nothing the Colts could do. So the Astros are in the worst division in football. Is it safe to say the Texans are winning the worst division? I mean, sorry, Astros' worst division in baseball. Is it safe to say the Texans winning the worst division in football? Oh, no, not even close. Have you looked at the NFC West and the NFC South? Let's see.

NFC West. You got two teams with a winning record in that division. Eight and six, the Rams and the Seahawks. There's only one team with a winning record in the South. I'm just saying. Well, but I mean, the NFC South's pretty putre too. South 8 and 6, 6 and 7. Yeah, we'll give it to the NFC South, but it's close.

It's close. That's why it cracked me up, everybody. Oh, the Falcons. You know, everybody's got to feel really good about the Falcons this year. I said, uh-uh, uh-uh. What a collapse by them, by the way. Dude, what happened? You could schedule that tweet yearly with that organization, okay?

I mean, if there's a way to find a way to screw it up, they will find a way to screw it up. The falconing, as I believe you call it, But they got very much. They got the Raiders, Giants, and Panthers left on the schedule. Those got to be three guaranteed wins, right? Nothing is guaranteed with that team.

I was wonder if it's soon enough, Pinnock's time. I'm down. I'm down for Pinnock's season. Kirk Cousin's been a disaster lately. So you would be a man after Adam Wexler's heart with that term right there. He is not a Kirk Cousins guy. So we've got an update on Patrick Mahomes' status for Saturday. Ian Rappaport.

NFL Network reporting Mahomes underwent more tests and it has revealed a mild ankle sprain. Stop me if you've heard this before, considered to be week to week. Week to week. Do we know if it is a high ankle sprain or a low? High ankle sprain. High ankle sprain. Yes, thank you for the distinction. He won a Super Bowl with a mild high ankle sprain, but I wonder if it'll be interesting.

If the Chiefs, now if it was back in the day and the top two teams got to buy, you probably would just go ahead and pump the brakes and say, all right, it's Carson Wins season. They're only two and a half point dogs that way. Maybe they can win and beat the Texans who obviously are not world beaters, even though they're a good team with Carson Wins. But if you slip up, because you don't have the head-to-head tiebreaker against the bills, who have, as we discussed earlier, the Patriots, the Jets, and the Patriots, that's the last three games for the Bills.

It all seems like guaranteed wins for them. So you can nary a four to slip up if you're the Chiefs. I would say that he's going to miss one of these next two games for the Chiefs, either this Saturday against the Texans. Yeah, because they play on Christmas right after, right? Yeah, I was going to say. I mean, so then you've got it again on the Wednesday. It makes more sense to add home to miss that game rather than on the road.

You get the extra rest and you don't play until that Wednesday on Christmas. I'm going to guess gut feeling, which I'll put this. and tomorrow. Gut feeling, Pat Mahomes will not be playing this weekend. That's my gut feeling too. So there you go. If you want to attribute it to me as well, along with you. You know what? I'll write it down on the document for you right now, Dan Matthews. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Over the weekend, the Rockets lose 1-1196 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas. Their NBA Cup end season tournament over. They're going to be off until Thursday when they host

the New Orleans Pelicans. Things not good for the Pelicans right now. They are thinking about completely taking T&T. to that thing and sending everybody elsewhere. Worst team. They're going to blow it all up. They're that bad? They're awful.

What's Zion doing? Has he been hurt? He's been hurt. Oh, well, that's unfortunate. And then, of course, you know, the jokes about his weight will then be made and all that, you know. Can we, again, making the parallel to another Houston sports team, the Astros winning a weak division,

the Texans winning a weak division. A team in Houston with an elite defense, but huge offensive questions. shit marks. That would be your Houston Rockets and your Houston Texans. Well, I mean, like we said last year with the Astros, the Astros were singles and solo home runs. So maybe offense is optional in the Houston

market right now. What's the deal? Can we get an elite offense in Houston somewhere? I mean, we used to have one. We used to have two of them. Yeah. You had one last year, though, it was pretty good. Bring back the 2019 Astros. Yeah, that one was pretty nice. By the way, how sad is that making you that people keep sharing that lineup? And they're like

there's only two left. Yeah, there's only two left, but also at that time, that line up and not as formidable as it looks on paper there because if you wasn't that Yordon's rookie season and he was terrible in the playoffs that year that's why it makes me laugh when people and Kyle Tucker I don't think was very good in the playoffs that year either he wasn't he was green they were both very young now they developed into stars but at that point looking at it in retrospect it looks a lot stronger than it was at that time because they weren't very strong and I say to anyone that thinks the Astros were cheating in 2019

watch the at-bats of Yordaun Alvarez in that postseason he did not know what was coming. He did not know what was coming at all. Neither did Carlos Corray and others in that playoff run, but it was very clear in my mind, no buzzers in the 19 playoff run, because several Astros did not know what was coming. Well, luckily

Yordon at least had a good idea of what was coming in 2020, especially against Jose Alvarado. Kyle Tucker, speaking of the Astros, traded away on Friday to the Chicago Cubs. Eatsok Perides, coming back pitcher Hayden Wisniew, Sam Houston product, played his high

school ball at Syfair. Go Bearcats. Found out on the golf course out of Carlton Woods that he was being traded to the Astros. So that's one of those. Hang up the phone. Hit your next drive and go about your day. And then they said that he had the best round of his life. Believe him or not. Are they fabricating

this story? Well, most golfers lie. Yeah. That's true. Golf is a lot like for fishing. Fishermen? Yeah, I was going to say. Fishing, you know, weightlifting when you were younger. Like remember when you're in high school, oh, I can binge press this much. No, you can't.

Like, that's, that's, that's, that's what golf is now. I'm maxing out at about 375 right now. Okay, let's, let's see the depth. Let's see your reps. Let's see how this is going. Yeah. And Cam Smith, too, the third base product. Yeah, Cam Smith instantly becoming the Astros' best prospect.

But now they have, is it two guys or three guys in the top hundred? Yeah, and Elton and then is Baez's in the top one? No, or maybe. Matthews might be. Yeah, maybe. I guess we'll see what happens with the list they're normally going to come out around spring. So it'll be interesting to see.

Last year, DeZenzo was on the baseball prospectus top 100, but he wasn't on other top hundreds. We'll see what happens there. It's all subjective. It seems like baseball perspective, big believers in Zach DeZenzo's power. A lot of people are. A lot of people are. We'll see if he is able to be a guy that plays over at first base.

Travis Hunter responding to all the haters who are coming for his fiance. Yes, as he tells them yesterday to, quote, get your own girl and get a life. Now, this stems from, of course, he's announced the Heisman Trophy winner, and she's sitting down while everybody else is up, you know, applauding. Yes. Oh, congratulations. That's so awesome.

It wasn't in the video until Dion had to lean over and be like, hey, this is a pretty cool moment. Stand up for this. This is pretty cool. Oh, did Dion had to get her to stand up? I didn't notice that. He kind of, I believe it. It was Travis Hunter's mom. He's given a hug to. And as he's giving a hug, he notices that the fiancé is sitting down and he kind of like gives her a tap.

Like, hey, get up. Get up. Where do we come down on this, by the way? It's a 21-year-old in his fiance. Should I care? Not really. But, I mean, if it's on video, then of course everybody has to have an opinion and everybody has to act to outrage to it to a certain point. But it gets even better, though, too, if it's even possible. So there was like a little bit of a photo autograph meet and greet afterwards.

and she was caught on video asking, is she supposed to just sit there all day and do nothing? Yeah. Oh, okay. Greg and Ais Chan says, Saifere is the Bobcats. Well, he said Sam Houston. That's why I said Bearcats.

I was going to say, yeah. Sam Houston's the Bearcats. And yes, Syfair is the Bobcats. Thank you. Appreciate it. Yeah. All right, but, yeah, I saw the video of her, like am I supposed to do a city?

So she says that I didn't click on the video. Did you click on it? I saw that there was video. I didn't watch it. I just saw that. You know how, like, most people, in the caption, you know, put like a little bit of a snippet of a quote from it. Maybe this is a controversial stance.

I don't care who Travis Hunter is dating. I don't care. I don't know you're bringing it up because it is in the news and it has been in the news. I'm not saying this towards you, Dan. I'm saying this towards everybody, like people on Twitter and social media getting all up in arms about Travis Hunter and who he's dating. He says he's happy and he's right. Get your own girl. Get your own life. Let him live his own life. If he figures out that this ain't for him, then they'll divorce on years past or he'll just be unhappy the rest. of his life. He'll see. The point is he's a Heisman winner, and I do not care who he's dating.

All right. That's going to do it for the news at noon. You want to react to any of that. You can. 713-212-5-790. We got the Texans. Joe Mixon, sounds like he is going to play. Gut-feeling, Patma-Holmes will not. Astro stuff as well at 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Time for a quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross. But before we get to that break, how do you feel when you woke up this morning? How was the alarm went off? Did you jump up ready to tackle the day and you could not wait and you're bursting with energy? That's cool if that was you.

That wasn't you. If you're hitting snoo, you don't want to get out of bed. Motivation hasn't been there. Lebedo the last night wasn't great either. What is going on? I haven't changed my diet or my workout regimen. I'm slowing down. Maybe your testosterone levels are slowing down.

Get them checked. You have a lot of options. I'm telling you the right direction is to go with synergenics. Cinergenics is. is going to get you your results at your first visit. They have clinics all over town, and this is the most important part. You're getting a personalized TRT plan. It's going to be more advanced and basic standard therapy.

You hear these spots for these other places. It's a pill and a bottle. That's not tailored to you. Cinergenics is tailoring it to you, and that's why you go with them at Cinergenicshealth.com. The professionals at Cinergenics also experts with GLP1 weight loss. You can be evaluated for prescription weight loss medications. It's towards the end of the year.

get the ball rolling now, get to your best self in 2025. CinergenicsHealth.com. That's S-Y-N-E-R-G-X-Health.com. CinergenicsHealth.com. Matt Thomas, Ross Villariel. It's the Matt Thomas Show with Ross on Sports Talk 790. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas show with Ross. Without Matt Thomas, as you should know,

if you're hearing Christmas music and it's not Christmas Eve. The Scrooge is out. And the people who celebrate the spirit of Christmas are in, Dan. I would say we qualify for that. Connor McGovern, I think he does too. He's usually a holly, jolly person. So I'd say that us three are in good company there. Sometimes he's in a bad mood.

I love the Christmas. I love the Christmas. I love the Christmas. I laugh, Connor, because I too share that frustration. It's not to say that. Hey, I've been there too, man. Somebody asked you to cut something they don't use it. I won't even name any names.

Who's the worst culprit of all time? But we'll move on anyways. Phone lines open at 713. It's not Matt Thomas. 713. No, he would never do that. 713-212-5-790. So the Texans, now we get a little bit of news from Domingo Rines, as we mentioned, in the last segment.

And while you heard it, we played it, that sounds like, now, how much do we take him at his word saying that Joe Mixen is just fine? I mean, I think if it was any question whatsoever, he would just say, you know, we'll see how he goes as the week progresses. I mean, that's usually Demiko's tell in terms of it's not looking good. Yeah. But the fact that he said he's fine, I think is a step in the right direction, right? Yeah, I mean, and it wasn't, I mean, at least watching mixing on the field, like, I think if you go back and watch that Bears game, you could probably be like, he's hobbled by something. But it did seem like on the sidelines, like he never once went into the medical tent. He didn't even go back to the locker room, any of those things.

He was right there on the bench. And as the offense came off the field, he walked over. You could tell that he was hobbled a little. But I think that probably as the game went on, he was able to be just himself. Yeah. And that was, I mean, definitely step in the right direction. And hopefully that Joe Mixon can be back on the field for the Houston Texans. And so we played a little bit of D'Amico, Ryan's.

I want to give you a little bit of C.J. Stroud. A lot of the talk has been this whole year, the offensive line. It's been shuffled around. It got shuffled around again with Drew Scruggs, missing time. Here's what C.J. Stroud had to say about the new look offensive line. I thought it went great. You know, I thought with Titus not really practicing there all week, he stepped in and did as best as he could, and I thought he did really great.

You know, I thought that was one of the best interior lines that we played this year. I think 92 is very underrated. He's a dog, and, you know, Callais is, you know, like the term of here. He's huge. He's like six, seven, and, you know, and he's putting his hands up. He's really good. So, you know, that Interior does a really good job, and their D-line coach, you know, pass off to him. They do a good job of pick stunting and things like that.

But, I mean, when the time was there, you know, I felt like they did a great job picking those up, and I was able to deliver in those instances. But, you know, I definitely think that they did a great job. job and for Blake to step in as a young guy is amazing. Do you have concerns with Blake Fisher. He did completely blow a block on one of the sacks and has had some issues in the season when he's been called up in a spot duty. And clearly he's just not ready for prime time. And that's not necessarily why he was drafted as a tackle when you have Titus Howard. You have Laramie Me Tonsul. I'm sure the

thought and thinking was from Nick Casario and the Texans brass that you're going to try to bring him along and maybe he'll be ready in a year or two. But called in a spot duty. It is what it is at this point as far as the injuries along the offensive line they suffered this year. Well, I mean, let's just go ahead and take this from two perspectives. Number one, and I talked about this on this Saturday show, that they want to see what Blake Fisher has. And that's why they went ahead and made this move ahead of Sunday's game to move Titus over to left guard and have Blake Fisher there at right tackle because Kenyon Green was designated to return. But then what was the saying all week long?

well, you know, we've got to see where his health is, all of those different things, because I'll go ahead and break through the coded language on that. We're done with Kenyon Green. It should be. Barring several more injuries. We know what he is. We know what we can't expect and what we, in this case, cannot expect from him. And that's what that is.

It's let's see what this kid has in Blake Fisher. And it's not going to be a handful of games where they make a determination on him. But for Kenyon Green, it's going to be, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, get the shoulder right. No, no, no, no, you're not listening to us. Get the shoulder right, and then, you know, we'll go from there. That's what it is. That's the way the Texans are handling. Kenyon Green, quote unquote, being designated to return.

You feel like you know what you have in Kenyon Green, unfortunately at this point. You don't want to write off his career. He still is young, but it is just, he's quite frankly been one of the best offensive, worst, worst offensive linemen in football. So going with Blake Fisher, like I was, really watching the right tackle the entire game. There was the one blown play, as I said. So maybe we'll have to go watch the game again and put more of an emphasis on

watching more of the offensive line. But at the end of the day, four sacks, not ideal. A couple of them were on C.J. Stroud holding on to the ball a little bit too long. So I would say at the end of the day, although there wasn't a whole lot of production from the offense, a lot of it was because of the short fields in terms of the yardage. You scored 20 points, not a disaster there. and the defense is how this team is going to win going forward. That's how you beat the bills.

That's how you were so close to beating the Lions. I mean, yeah, they scored 26 against you, did the Lions, and that's probably not ideal as far as an average, but that Lions' offense being held to 26 points is a pretty good task done by the Texan's defense. No, I mean, the defense, for the most part, all season long, has stepped up for this team. And that Lions game, I mean, you've got a 16-point lead. I understand what the offense is not giving you,

but you find a way. to win that football game. And look, I mean, I think that probably you lost that game and the lessons learned from that loss were put to use yesterday, where you got contributions out of your special teams. Tommy Townsend has been just okay. But, I mean, you get the fake punt. That's nice. Cahey me Fairbairn making all of his kicks.

That's even more nice because he'd gone through that stretch where it'd been kind of like, hey, we think so, but we're not 100% sure. I mean, you know, of the games that they lost this year that you look back on and you're like, you should have won that game. Tennessee was one of them. Yeah. I mean, he completely pulls the go-ahead kick right there and you end up losing that game. Yeah, what was that wasn't even a, that was under 40 yards.

I think it was like 33 or something like that. I mean, it was basically an extra point and he completely whiffed it left. Yeah, that's how it goes. I mean, I would say unless you have Justin Tucker, but Justin Tucker's been very shaky this year for the Ravens, which is crazy to say. The greatest of what time. I don't think he's highest in all-time field goal made percentage anymore after this year. I mean, he's been incredibly good, and you're right.

I mean, he's been a little shaky, so it happens. I mean, who has been super reliable, but he's been a little shaky for stretches this year. It's like all the great kickers have been, I don't know what's in the air to this year. Well, remember at the beginning of the season, people were wondering, hey, we're having too many guys making too many 50-plus-yard field goals. like this isn't cool oh did they change the footballs did they do something was there something was i'm almost wondering that a little bit too you know conspiracy theory time here on the show i'm okay with that how are all these kicks all the sudden starting to be missed i don't get it i just don't get it oh that's a show that's a segment later on in the week here on the mad thomas show okay time for a quick

break here on the mad thomas show with ross without mad thomas he is out on vacation he will be back thursday i'm with you until then you want to get here get in here you can at seven one three 212. 5790, 713, 212-790. Back in a moment, don't go anywhere. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson here. You're listening to the Matt Thomas show on Sports Talk 790. And now here on Sports Talk 790, it's time for the worst Christmas song of all time. Oh, I'm not trying to be a contrarian here.

Uh-oh, you like it. I actually do like it. This song sucks! It is a little bit of a mail-in. I will give you that because it's kind of like, are you even really singing any words? This is what happened. You know what? Do me a favor.

Make a copy of this song real quick. Connor, I'm going to ask you to play the beginning. This is what happened. Somebody turned on a synthesizer. Somebody gave Paul McCartney a synthesizer and literally the first couple of notes he played. Play the beginning of this. Hey, what is this? This is a synthesizer, eh? Boom, point.

Oh, wow. Oh, I think this is a tune. I don't know why he talks like this now, but he does. Literally, this song was written in five seconds. It's the first five notes that Paul McCartney hit on the synthesizer. Probably he was whacked out on drugs out of his mind. He thought it sounded great and he kept with it. And then the lyrics are terrible too.

This song sucks. Hey, show some respect, okay? He is a man who is knighted. Yeah, this is a six-year-old playing on a synthesizer for the first time, what it sounds like. The studio asked him to make a Christmas song. Yeah, okay. He said, all right, fine, I'll make you a Christmas song.

And this is what he gave. All right, if you say, so, all right, you can fade this out now. Welcome back to what is this, the Matt Thomas show without Matt Thomas, with Dan Matthews, with me, Ross. Hour number four coming up. Phone lines open and available for you guys at 713. 212-5-790. 7-13-21-2-5-7-90.

So the Texans sitting at 9-and-5. We played C.J. Stroud. Sounds like he was pretty pleased with the New York... New Look, offensive line. Not that he's going to be, like, trashing guys. Two people that we can count on to never trash anybody, D'Amico Ryans and C.J. Stroud. Yeah, I would agree with that.

Joe Mixon. A.J. Brown, maybe he might trash somebody. But C.J. Stroud, D'Amico Rines is not going to trash anybody. No, they're going to go the complete opposite direction. And how do we feel about Derek Stingley? I feel like sometimes when it comes to cornerbacks and they're getting a lot of interceptions. This happened with what Trayvon Diggs, I think, with the Cowboys, where he really wasn't one of the best cornerbacks in football, but he had a lot of picks and people like, oh, look at all these picks. And he made like

first team all pro. It's like, if you're actually a locked down cornerback, you're not getting a lot of picks because nobody's throwing it in your direction. So without me having like breaking down the all 22 every single week. I still feel like while Derek Stingley is a plus cornerback, I don't know if I put him in the lockdown category of guys like say Joey Porter Jr., Patrick's

Retain, the second, funny enough, both of those guys, sons of NFL players, but like, and maybe even Jai or Alexander, depending on if he's healthy with the Green Bay Packers. I don't think of him that way. Is that a mistake on my part? Yeah, I mean, in terms of Stingley,

I believe it was grandfather. played for the Patriots or his dad did. It was somebody in his family that did. But no, I mean, with him, it was early on. It was injuries. It was a little bit of inconsistency. Just kind of trying to find your footing. And the other problem was he came in at the same time as Sauce Gardner.

And Sauce Gardner came in and immediately made an impact. So, of course, people were like, oh, my God, look at what a miss you had in the draft. You could have had that guy, but you got this guy. But I venture to say that Stingley, at least the last couple of years, has played just as good, maybe even better than sauce gardener and what you've been able to do. And you heard how they used them yesterday. They talked about it. They said we were going to travel them all over the field.

We wanted them on Waddle and once Waddle went out, we said they're going to go to Tyreek quite a bit. And when they go to that Tyreek quite a bit, number 24 is going to be on them. And number 24 was on them and I mean, they just couldn't get anything done. So I honestly, I came into this game

worried because you lost Jalen Petrie, Aziz Alshayor still not in to the fold for, you know, for a couple more weeks with this team and the suspension that he has suffered. And I was wondering if they were going to be able to be as consistent against a hot Dolphins team that had scored 30 plus points in, well, not in back-to-back weeks, but in three of the last four weeks with the bad week that they had against the Packers, they only scored 17. But the offenses really had started humming on all cylinders to a back into the fold, and they held them to 12 points. They did a great job. I mean, that's the part of it as well, is that you won this game yesterday because of defense.

You won this game yesterday because your special teams actually didn't commit a bunch of penalties and set you up with decent enough returns. I mean, you got Tank Dell returning punts yesterday. That's something that I can't remember if he's done it all this season. I think he has it early like here and there. But for the most part, it had been Robert Woods and then Stephen Sims before him. But, I mean, you know, that was part of it as well as you're looking at it and saying, let's give ourselves an opportunity here.

Let's give ourselves a chance to kind of break one open. I mean, Texans haven't had a great return man, really, probably since you had Jacoby Jones, and he was somebody that could be able to take one back. Unless I'm missing somebody in between, I mean, I can't think of it. Trending holiday. I think he had like one he took back for a touchdown.

Right. Not even with the Texans, I can't remember. Aside from that, you couldn't even get him on the field. That was five foot five, man. Give him a break. I mean, you couldn't even do the, the hidden holiday play that they used to do at LSU where they would have him behind Herman Johnson

and you know you'd be like hey where is he oh my God oh my God he's running for a touchdown you know wherever Trinand Holiday is I hope he's having a great day he's probably in Zachary Louisiana probably just okay is that he's from yeah yeah he's probably you know coaching football on track would be my guess

hmm okay during the break I might have to do a LinkedIn search of is Trinin holiday on LinkedIn shout out Deuce Vaughn too we're talking about short NFL players wishing him the best And that Deuce is still around? I mean, you know, he's good.

He's on the roster. He's getting ignored. But Rico Dowdell season over there for the Cowboys. It has been Rico Dowdell season. And Rico Dowdell might get himself some money after the season he's had. So you're telling me, Ezekiel Elliott, wasn't the answer at running back for the Dallas Cowboys. I think the Cowboys whiffed on a lot of things this season.

But I'm telling you, the Cowboys have two more really winnable games. They finish eight and nine. They don't need to do that, though. Don't they need to stay? That would be the most Cowboys thing ever. Take, lose all your games. But that's the problem, though, is that they don't look at it in a functional, rational setting of, hey, let's set ourselves up for the future. They look at it as, hey, we had a strong finish.

Look, we finished eight and nine with all the injuries we have. We're building momentum up into the next year. I mean, gosh, you know, we lost DAC. We, you know, CD was good this year, but we didn't have Micah Parsons for some time. I mean, that's the way that Jerry is going to look at it. I'm telling you right now, Jerry is looking for a reason to keep Mike McCarthy around. Well, they've won three of the last four. they could have won that game against the Bingles

if they didn't muff the punt before that they got crushed by the Texans so maybe again I brought it up earlier maybe in retrospect that Cowboys win looks a little bit better than it won than we thought at the time they're a better team they're at least playing better they're not a good football team

I mean I don't think we can disagree with that and I mean of course you know we say all of that after you mentioned the Bengals loss they beat the Giants the Giants are awful they beat the Panthers yesterday same deal there so I mean it is also

also about who you're beating. Texans have won. Three of their last four games, and they have clinched the AFC cell. And they broke the home losing streak, too, that they were on. What was it too straight at home that they had lost? So you got that going for you, which is nice. Yeah, suck it, dolphins.

On the road to the Chiefs this Saturday, who I guess will be without Patrick Mahomes. Okay, time for another break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas, Dan Matthews, Ross Villarreal, with you, Connor McGovern as well, spinning all of the hits. When we come back, we'll talk some more Texans. We'll get to anything you want to as well at 713-212-5-790.

7-1-3-212-5-7-90. Launch timers. This is the Matt Thomas show. Agumbo-Wally is the running back, third down and four. Blocked by Tunsel on Auburn. Stroud. End-zone. Touchdown.

Collins and they cash in on the fumble by Tungle by Lola Short game against Baltimore on Christmas Day on Wednesday Second and six Ikenberger block and it's picked off on the play Crab Rock. It would have been a big connection

if not a touchdown. That's a fake Townsend was going to punt by what a call inside the 10. This season for Houston second and goal. Stroud. There's a block By the wide receiver Woods, caught by Collins.

Touchdown, Houston. His second touchdown reception today. Third and five, two are going deep. Oh, interception. Hill out of bounds. What it up, Stingley. Miami needs to win and get help. There's a long pass looking for Hill, and it's picked off.

It's intercepted. Stingley's done it again. It's done it again. Kevin Harlan is Stingley is done it again Big fan of Kevin Harlan Huge fan of Kevin Harlan He's a Matt Thomas FOS right

Friend of the show Okay sure I thought it was FOS means something else Oh I don't know Full of Nevermind All right Ah well no

I mean I was like he is I've heard it in in radio circles Used as friend of the show You take the T out Okay well if I say Maybe F O Lowercase T.S.

Well, there's no doubt in my mind, Dan, you are FOS. All right. Welcome back into the Matt Thomas show. You're probably right. It just depends on how far I'm willing to go with it. Dad Matthews here. Matt Thomas is not Ross Villariel with you. Phone lines open at 713-2125-790. The Houston Texans have clinched the AFC South.

The Houston Texans have won three of their last four games. C.J. Stroud threw two touchdowns, no interceptions. Derek Stingley was locking up. Tyreek Hill. You held the Dolphins offense to just 12 points. And all anyone is doing is complaining about the Houston Texans. Welcome to Houston, Texas. I was going to say, that's pretty much what we do. And, I mean, you know, part of the fun, too, of listening to those highlights was the defender cannon being fired off after touchdowns.

And only a couple of Kaimi Fairbair and Field Goals, one of them after. the Kalen Bullock interception. And, I mean, you know, the offense, it did have its fits and starts. Like, here's, I like the story of what John Mechie is, but, dude, you got to catch that ball. Catch the football. It'd be nice. Like both of them.

Both of them, you're an NFL receiver. You got to bring those in. Yeah, Nico Collins, only four catches for 17 yards, but two of them for touchdowns. Tank Dell, only a couple of catches for 26 yards. Joe Mixen was your leading receiver out of the backfield. Five catches for 33. You couldn't get much going. You did have some short field, so maybe you could say that limited the yardage total,

but it didn't feel like the offense was humming all cylinders anyways for all four of the quarters, where they were shut out in the fourth, were the Texans. So you did just enough. It's funny we're talking about it this way with last year in C.J. Stroud, and then you sign Stefan Diggs. You get Joe Mixon. We're talking about thinking about this being one of the best offensive. in Texan's history that has not materialized nor has it been anywhere close,

but this defense has been completely lights out. And I think, especially when you get Azizal Shire back, you're going to be able to, I don't want to say shut down every offense in the NFL, but I think this defense is going to be good enough to keep you in games no matter who you play. Well, the good news on the defensive front is that last year you had times where it was pretty evidence that you weren't winning the line of scrimmage. This year, it's been the other way around. You've won the line of scrimmage pretty much every single game you've played. So that was something that was a bit of a concern coming out of last season because remember,

that playoff loss to the Ravens. That was the difference in the game. You completely got beat up up front. They were able to run pretty much with relative ease. And you had Domeco Ryan's that following Monday at a podium saying we've got to fix that. And we thought that with Rankins and with Collins going out the door that it was not. going to get fixed. Tim Settle Jr. has been awesome for you. Mario Edwards has been amazing for you. Foli Fottacasi, he leaves the game yesterday. They've all been decent. Yeah, I mean, they haven't been like super impact players. But neither were Sheldon Rankins and who's the other guy you mentioned? Malik Collins. But they're doing the job. I mean, they're stopping the run.

I mean, I didn't see the final number yesterday in terms of what Miami was able to do running the football. 52 rushing yards yesterday. I mean, so they're doing the job up front. And they're they're giving you an opportunity to be able to, okay, we stop the run. Now can we get after the quarterback? And for the most part, they've done that. Yeah, it hasn't been, you know, where those guys have been like buzz saws and getting a bunch of tackles for losses. Now it has happened. Tim Settle has five sacks on the year.

And the tackles for loss have been there from him. But Furs, the other guys, I think what they really do a good job of is when they get double-teamed on inside zones or when they're, they usually do a good job of not getting blown up. even if they're not penetrating the line of scrimmage, they're holding their block, they're holding double teams, and that allows the guys like Henry Tooto, Christian Harris, whether it be Aziz, I'll share here,

whoever it is as far as at the linebacker position, to get downhill and the waters aren't as muddied, and then they can get a clear shot at the running back and make their tackles, which they've been very good at. Henry Toto, if you want him in coverage, it's a little bit of a shaky proposition. You want him to stop the run. He can stop the run.

Yeah, he does a very good job of that. And overall, this defense, despite losing Jalen Petrie, Aziz O'Shea are still suspended, not on the field. I was worried about this Dolphins offense and the way that they've been playing a lot better. They just look pedestrian. They just like, I mean,

Mike and Daniel was like, yeah, we're going to run 4,000 screens and then see what happens. Out of the three games that we were preparing ourselves for this one, Kansas City, Baltimore, coming up after that, that was the one yesterday you looked at and said, have to have it. They must

win the game before the Texas Trust me, I wasn't trying to set you up for that, but it worked out incredibly well. So I'll take credit to you at second base there for the double play. But, I mean, that was the one that you won. And now it's, if you split these next two games, you have to feel incredibly good about the fact that you took two out of these three at least. Yeah, I wonder. Now, we'll see how things shake out. You do, I mean, you got a shot at the three seed.

right now, as it were, it would be the Baltimore Ravens visiting with you as the four and them as the five. You don't want the Ravens. You don't want the Ravens, especially because their weakness is their defense and your weakness is your offense. I mean, but the Broncos are pretty good and so are the Los Angeles Chargers. But I would think of the three, you would rather not end up playing the Ravens. Oh, trust me.

I mean, I would much rather either of the other two teams. I mean, the Broncos, Bo Nix has been nice. But playoff Bo Nix, what would that look like? I mean, I think that he's probably a little bit more of a wild card in that regard. And in the Chargers, I think they're a nice story. They're not there yet. I mean, the Chargers are pretty much this year's Texans. They didn't bottom out as bad as the Texans did a couple of years ago, three years ago.

But then, you know, they became a little bit of a surprise. Like, that offense is good. It's not great. And you found that out yesterday against Tampa Bay. I mean, if Tampa Bay can do that against the Chargers, I think you would like your chances, too. Yeah, Tampa Bay dropped 40 on the Chargers, which I think was surprised.

A lot of that was also too, garbage time. Chargers have to go for it. I mean, I was listening to that game a little bit as I was coming back from the Texans game. And, I mean, I think that it was a two-score game before Tampa was able to put up their final couple of scores. Yeah. All right.

We have a couple of you on the phone lines. Want to talk some Texans. So let's go ahead and do that. I mentioned the phone number is 713. 212-5-790. Adam and Tom Ball has been holding patiently. What do you got, Adam? Hey, hey, Ross.

Hey, Dan. How y'all doing? What's up, buddy? How you doing? Pretty good. Hey, I just got a few things. I mean, I'm a Texan fan through and through, and defense is doing great and all.

But just to me, I mean, from, you know, a couch quarterback, standpoint, I mean, they just seem like they're not, I mean, they're not putting their foot on the gas. They're not putting their foot, you know, on the throat of other teams. They get up and we're set up, we keep settling for fairbaring, fair barren field goals. We get up to the 45, you know, almost, you know, 40-yard line. We're settling for all these field goals. But on top of that, like to me as well, I don't even think Bobby Sloke is opening the playbook right now, really. That just, that's just, that's just to me now we get i i think we can get up like we got up for the lions game um i just think they're really holding their cars back right now that's just my opinion because the the the

digression with c j stroud is just night and day from last year with a makeshift offensive line it's just it's just it's just deceiving very deceiving to me and i'm just really you know from a from a from a competitor standpoint and especially from like a demico ryan standpoint I just really think they're holding their cards back. And, I mean, hey, it could be the fan in me wanting to see them do better. But, I mean, to me, I mean, they did what, that trick play yesterday. They bring it out on the punt, the fake pump with Ogunbo Wale. And, I mean, I'd like to see more of that.

But, I mean, they're just very, been very, very vanilla taking what the defense is given to them. And I think that's there been their MMO all year. It's just, I mean, am I missing something here? No, I don't think so, Adam, but this is the thing. Who is the NFL team that you see that is just routing everybody every week and just blowing guys out? And they feel like the no doubt about a contender that is a completely perfect team. I don't see that anywhere. None of them.

Yeah, I mean, the bills are probably playing some of the best football in the NFL right now. They lost to the Rams giving up 44 points. They gave up 42 points to the Lions. They're getting in shootouts. Their defense is looking vulnerable. The Kansas City Chiefs has been in three-point games with the Raiders and the Panthers, and now Pat Mahomes is hurt. The Philadelphia Eagles, they almost lost last week to the Panthers.

To me, yeah, there's teams that aren't putting their throat. That's just everywhere, and that's the nature of the NFL. You're 9 and 5. You are what your record says you are. There's no team out there unless there's somebody I'm missing that you can point out to me that is just looks like a perfect, unstoppable machine that is blowing everyone out every week. I don't see it anywhere else in the NFL. Oh, no, absolutely not. I don't see it either.

I'm just saying, like, as a competitive standpoint, because you don't want to show, especially, especially because they have adjusted to him this year versus his rookie year. So, you know, maybe they got, maybe, and I'm going to give Bobby Sloat, you know, I'm going to give him a chance. You know what I mean? I'm not saying, you know, let him go after this year, nothing like that. I mean, I believe in him because he did great in San Francisco. So that's not, that's not the point. It's just I really, I really hope that that's my, that's my, that's my idea. deal is. I hope that this, you know, it's a, it's a facade. Like, what we're seeing from them is not what the Texans can be potentially. Like, I know they're a much better team. That's, you know, that's where I'm getting out. All right, Adam. Thank you. Appreciate you getting in.

We do have to get to a break. 713, 212, 790, the phone number. I mean, I do think that it is an offense that there's a little bit too much thinking happening. Like, it's a little bit of trying to force things because you're incredibly dependent on Nico Collins. You're incredibly dependent on Joe Mixen as well. I mean, there's not very many other parts of this offense you look at as well as a pretty rough offensive line that you can say, hey, that guy stepped up today. Yeah, but I mean, okay, I'm with you. Xavier Hutchinson, or while he's not even been playing good, John Mechie isn't a plus

plus guy. Maybe we should be getting a little bit more production out of Tank Dell, but you're going to. Dalton Schultz, anyone? Dalton Schultz, he looks a step slow. honestly from last year. He looks like he's going to be able to get open, and then he's going to find a spot to squat in zone, and he can find the holes in his own,

especially when C.J. Stroud is on the run, but he's not going to give you much more than that. I think that's kind of who he is. He's a sit-down. He sits down. He catches it, and pretty much it's kind of like tight ends used to be, where it was basically, hey, I'll give you some yards. Jason Wittenback in the end of his career.

But I ain't going to give you very much yak. Yack isn't unhappening with Dalton-Shultz, And I don't think, you know what, he wasn't necessarily supposed to be that guy. He's supposed to be the fourth option behind Nico Collins, Tankdell, and Stefan Diggs, who unfortunately tore his ACL. But even look at last year when, you know, the run game was so-so with Devin Singletary. You didn't get much from Damien Pierce. I mean, he had Brevin Jordan.

And Brevin Jordan was a guy that actually could give you some big plays. Unfortunately, Brevin Jordan, not available. All right, we're going to take a quick break here on the Matt Thomas show with Ross without Matt Thomas. that is Dan Matthews. You want to complain about the Texans, let's hear. But I'm saying that there's no dominant team in the NFL that's blowing out everyone every week. It's been a lot of close games.

That's the nature of the league. And the Texans continue to win, as they've now won three of the last four, the one loss coming against the terrible Titans. I get it. So I understand why we're not all in and all that type of stuff. But also, it's like, I mean, do we not remember what we had with Davis Mills

leading this team and where we were with David Cully and all that type of stuff. Like, they just clenched the division with three weeks left. I think that should be applauded. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number 7-1-3-21-2-5-7-90. Back after this short break on the Matt Thomas Show with Ross. Matt and Ross returned. Returned on Sports Talk 790.

Oh, dear. We're about to get canceled now. I really can't stay. But maybe you should go home. I gotta go away Will you sign this consent form? I'll have my lawyer contact you. Welcome back to the Matt Thomas show.

Isn't that kind of a flux to tell someone? You'll be hearing from my attorney. No. I mean, maybe. What if you don't really have an attorney? Well, I was going to say, I mean, I think you can only break that out if you actually do have legal representation. You'll be hearing from my attorney. I'm going to choose the fourth attorney I see.

driving on I-45 on a billboard. I was going to say, for the most part, people living paycheck to paycheck are breaking that out on. All right. If I'm driving down 45 south from, let's just say, Woodlands Parkway to the 610 loop, how many different lawyers billboards will I see? Eight and a half? Is it over that? I was actually going to go like four. Oh, I think it's over. So four and a half.

I'm going to have to ask you to count next time. What exit do you get on, and would you hook on to the old four-files? I get on at Rayford Slaughter. Okay, so one before. So I, yeah, I've got a pretty good amount. balance. Oh, no, I went to yeah, one before.

Four? Yeah, Robinson and then. So, so you know for sure you're going to get the hammer. You know that both Jim and Bill,

although when I went to high school with him, he was Billy Adler. Look at my billboards. I'm going to save you from the predatory insurance companies. And then, Merry Christmas. Probably,

Domingo Garcia somewhere. All right. We don't have to, no names, no free plugs. That's true. This is the Matt Thomas show. With Ross. No free plugs.

or rhymes. Ben Badler. That's what you got to go with. All right. Anyways, welcome back to the show. Rosvira with you. Dan Matthews is here as well. Conn McGovern, spinning his favorite Christmas records. You can get in if you'd like at 713. 212-790. 7-1-3-212-5-790. Okay, this is, dude, the AI bots are getting smarter and smarter. What now? I got a tweet from Rocket Stroh-21, who is a real, person. Hey, Sports RV, is Thomas Sports Enterprise out scouting today? Going to give us more along the lines of the great Will Levis and Sauce Gardner over Derek

Stingley? Derek Stingley is having a better season than Sauce Gardner. I think that is an objective opinion and is factual. So Thomas Sports Enterprises perhaps taking a little hit after Matt Thomas did a lot of celebrating over Sauce Gardner, who had a great start to his career, hasn't been as good since. and then we get one from Lily Marlin, which has got to be some kind of bot. Hey, Sports RV is Thomas Enterprise out scouting today? It's the same gun.

Are they focusing on Will Levis and Sauce Gardner over Derek Stingley? It's literally a bot took this tweet, replied to it to me, and then retooled it. I would say block the retooling one. Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and block. I'm reporting, actually. That seems like one way or another than you end up. as a crypto account. Yeah, I'm not trying to get hacked.

And you can't get your account back. Muted, blocked and reported. Like, did you ever see, speaking of hacking accounts, did you ever see when Skip Bayliss got hacked? Yes. And the guy started to really, like, release the dossier in terms of Skip's life. It didn't go well for Skip. Yeah, good times.

Good times. Well, Matt Thomas got, he got hacked by a Turkish person. Oh. Not recently within a lot. I think it was maybe Alpern-Shing-Sing-Goon first or second year. I don't know if there was a tie in there. ask Alprin for help in terms of, hey, what does this mean? What does that mean? I don't know. But I think he eventually had his account restored and he's fine now. Alprin Shingun, a huge fan of the Jinko's.

Jinko jeans? They're back? I don't know if they're actually Jinko jeans, but they're in the style. No, the baggy is back. The kids are into the baggie. Especially like all the fashionable kids in in Korea, wearing all this crazy stuff that I'd never seen before. For a while there, like the skateboarders went back to skinny jeans. and I was like, that's interesting. Yeah. I think it was, didn't Lil Winket made fun of for skinny jeans, and then they became super popular, now the baggie is back. Things cycle, and well, now, unfortunately, I'm old enough to have gone through a full fashion cycle.

It's terrible. All right, Nigel, Vancouver. What's up? Good morning. Thank you for taking my phone call. I think I have a mix of both skinny jeans and baggy jeans. Okay. I don't know where I'd fall on this one.

Where do you feel more comfortable in Nigel? Skinny jeans. Okay. Yeah. I'm a relaxed me and myself. I don't look good in skinny jeans. But go on, please. Regarding the Texans, I think that the byweek couldn't have come at a better time. It's obvious that the offense, C.J. Stroud in particular, is having what some people would call a sophomore slump. And to your point before the break, some changes are going to need to be made this offseason. But what I do like or what I really appreciate about the game this weekend was the aggressiveness of the coaching.

The coaches obviously realize what they have and they're coaching up the players in such a way to win the game, which I really appreciated. The defense is very special, in my opinion, but to that point, they're getting more points off turnovers. They're utilizing those takeaways and getting points on the board. We're in the dance now. I have no clue what's going to happen, but I wish them very well. Great show today. Thank you. Thank you, Nigel.

Appreciate you getting in. Yeah, it's funny because I kind of feel the way to make another assholes parallel. When they got into the playoffs, we're like, man, I could see them out in this first wildcard series or I could see them making it to the World Series. Now, I feel less likely that the Texans could make it to the Super Bowl, given the way that things have played out.

But if they win a couple of games, and we'll see what happens against the Chiefs this week. We'll see what happens against the Ravens. I think as they've, gone up against the elite in the NFL with a field goal win over the bills, with a field goal loss to the Lions on Sunday night football. I do feel like they can compete against anyone, but we talked about this when the schedule first came out, that we're going to learn a lot about this team during this stretch. The dolphins haven't been up to part of where we thought

they were maybe going to be preseason. The Chiefs might be losing Pat Mahomes, and we'll see on that. But I think we are going to still learn a lot about this team in the next two weeks. Because it was learned behavior between the Astros and the Texans. The Astros, they at least had a track record of going far in the playoffs. Texans don't. Texans track record is maybe you went on wild card weekend and then you go play somebody on divisional round weekend and you get smacked.

So, all right, we gotta hit a quick break. So we'll see how it goes. How are we feeling about the next two weeks with the Texans where the team is now? Like I said, I choose to be optimistic. I mean, no team is dominating other teams week to week. That doesn't normally happen in this day and age in the NFL. I don't think it's happening now. Everyone looks a little bit vulnerable.

The Texans' vulnerabilities, maybe a little. bit more pronounced on offense. But how do you feel 713-212-5-790 is the phone number? Ray, we see you on whole. We'll get to you as well. And any of you that want to get in at 7-13-212-5-790. Back to Matt Thomas and Ross Villarreal on Sports Talk 790. Spend it all the latest Christmas hits for you on Sports Talk 790. Now it's time for when. Well, what did you do? Christmas. Last Christmas. Well done.

I got the time count down. I'm still cheating. This is the jam. I think I mentioned this. Were you sitting in that chair last time this was played in? It was a gorty. I can't remember. Matt was out, I think.

And it had to be gorty. I don't believe that I was. I was mentioning songs that really annoyed you. But then as the years went on, you're like, dang it. This is kind of a hit. This is where this falls for me. I mean, actually, no, I think it was me.

I think I mentioned the Bill Hader Twitter account that Bill Hader dances. I think it's what it is. Oh, okay. And this was mentioned, yeah. And this was one where it was like a skit on Saturday Not Live where Bill Hader, I think, was like a Kind of inside like the doll box dancing to this. Okay. Kind of doing like the Trump dance almost a little bit. Yeah, I think you did mention that. All right, that's Dan Matthews. He's here. Dan, thanks for hanging out. I forget to thank you again. Cona McGovern has been here as well. My name is Ros Viorari.

We're talking about all things. Well, Houston Texans. We've been talking a little bit of Astros in the trade of Kyle Tucker. Didn't get into a whole lot about the rockets, but anything you guys want to get into, you can. 713-212-5-790 is the phone number. You can also send tweets to at SportsRV. Again, the phone number, 7-13-212-5-7-90.

You know what? I think I'm just going to flat-out come out and say it. Somehow within a year, this Texans fan base has gotten spoiled. You're 9-5. There's three weeks left. You've clinched the division. Yeah, your team's not perfect. Yes, C.J. Stroud has, at least the numbers-wise, has regressed this year.

17 touchdowns to nine interceptions. What was last year? 23 and 5, I think, somewhere in that neighborhood. So, yeah, there's been some regression there. But you're in the mix. You've got three weeks to continue to improve. There's been a lot of shuffling on the offensive line. You've gotten rid of Kenyon Green now via injury.

And then now because they realized they shouldn't be putting him back in there because he was the worst guard in football. and you shuffled your offensive line again, so maybe you give them another week, maybe Blake Fisher can improve, maybe you get some better chemistry, or we'll see what happens with you Scruggs. I still feel like,

as long as Nico Collins, C.J. Stroud, and Joe Mixen are healthy, you can score enough points to win with this defense playing the way that they are. They're spoiled on hope, because the hope is that you finally do break through. You finally do get to the AFC championship game. Hell, you win the AFC championship game. Like, that's what the hope is.

And by the way, too, like I said, I understand it's a tall task of what I'm about to ask, but you win two more games, you're better than you were last year against a much better schedule. Yeah, I would agree with that. Because the Astros, at least the spoiled nature and everything of that sort,

there's actual tangible results, there's championships, there's getting past the LCS and getting to the World Series. Maybe you don't win the World Series, but at least you got there. Like the Texans don't have any of those things yet, not even close. You know, it also say this. Preseason now, I often do bring up Vegas numbers and I do understand that Vegas isn't

and all be all in all and it's and Vegas is often wrong on these types of things, but the preseason expectation at least from the win total number was nine and a half. You're at nine. Now you did have to lay a little juice on the, if you went over on the nine and a half. So the expectation was basically 10. The expectation was 10 wins. You've got nine with three weeks to go. And you're about where they were expected to be. Not only where they were expected to be, but it's also too. I mean, have they lost some games they should have won, like I mentioned earlier? Of course they have.

They've also won some games that you look back at and you say, you're incredibly fortunate that you won that football game. Yesterday was not one of them. I mean, the score was what the score was. Texans dominated that game. I don't need you to tell me, well, they only won by eight. No, the score was not indicative of the effort yesterday. You beat them in special teams.

You crushed them defensively. and you did enough offensively you'd be able to win the game. That's a good win. Yeah, I would say the two worst losses on the season if we go back. Obviously, the Vikings in week three

where you just got completely thrashed by them. That defense, the offensive line was not ready. It was pressure after pressure, turnover after turnover. They got destroyed by the Vikings. And then that Jets lost on a Thursday night,

those are the worst two. Oh, I think I've got one that trumps both of those. Are you going with the Titans? Yes, 100% I'm going with the Titans. That was an awful loss. You had zero business losing that football game. Yeah, the Titans came back in that game. What was the turnover? I don't have to think about that.

You made Will Levis look like a capable quarterback in that game. There was some catching run. Will Lovice got benched yesterday for Mason Rudolph. Also, he's been hurt since then. I don't know why. I don't know exactly what's going on with Will Leves and Thomas Sports Enterprises. But I mean, that's the thing, is that you had Z. zero business losing that game. You sleptwalk through that game.

You still had a chance to win it. But again, even if you had won that game, I think you're coming off the field saying, yeah, that wasn't cool. Yeah, CJ Stroud had turned the ball over too much in that game. That's a good one too. But I'm talking about where you got beat up and down the field. And there was, I would say,

there was a chance they could have won that Titans game. There was a chance they could have won the Jets game. I don't think so, honestly, the way that they're playing. But it doesn't matter. If you actually have a pulse offensively in the second half, then you do. which they did. No.

And Nico Collins wasn't in that game, correct? He was not. When you were missing Nico Collins? Yes, no, he was not. No, he was not because his return was Dallas. We thought that he was going to return the following Sunday against Detroit. And then, of course, he was active for that. They pulled the whole activated or they elevated him, but then he practices on Friday.

So you're like, okay, hey, if he's practicing on Friday. That was gamesmanship by D'Amico. I think they knew he wasn't ready, but they were just trying to. make the Detroit Lions try to think that they might have to prepare for him. But yeah, Joe Mixon was in that Jets game. He did get 106 yards. That was when they fumbled at the end of that game, right? They fumbled.

I mean, they even had one where they were deep in Jets territory and they fumbled. Yeah, that's maybe what I'm thinking of. You didn't come away with any points. And then remember, you had the penalty after the Kiyemi make. And then you had to settle again for the field goal and Kiami missed it. Hmm. Yeah. those are some bad losses.

That's one of those that the Texans, like I don't know who their other division that they play in the AFC is next year. They're, which, no, it wouldn't be because this year was the AFC East. So you're not going to have to worry about going to the Meadowlands, at least next year, which will be nice. Yeah, it definitely would be nice to have seen, like,

more blowouts in the last several weeks, or really at any point in more than one blowout, really what they've had all season. But that just hasn't been the formula. I don't think, I mean, it seems to me, D'emico Ryans is the coach of the way that they coach this team is to win with the defense, establish the run, and it's going to be close wins, and it's going to be close losses. And that's what it's been like for a lot of the season.

Okay, that's fine. But let's just go ahead and go through playoff scenarios. Let's just say that you get into the next round. And let's just say things go really well these last few weeks. You get into the first round, or you mean the second round of the playoffs? Yeah, yeah. So you take two out of three. So they're beating the Ravens. So yeah. And then Pittsburgh loses to both Baltimore and to the Steeler, or excuse me, to the Chiefs, so then you're able to get that three seed, which would put them in much better position, but then you win that game,

you more than likely have to go to Buffalo and play them. And that style against Buffalo, you're not going to hold Josh Allen in 9 of 30 for the second straight time. You're not going to do it. I wouldn't think, well, it depends on what the weather is, up there in Buffalo. You're an indoor team.

You're a team that does not play in that. I know you're not, you don't play in that, but you're also built on defense in the run game. And I think that's better suited for a windy, snowy game. I think your run game is better than the bills. Now, you don't have Josh Allen and everything that he can do and making a bunch of plays and improvising. I think you're limiting some of his efficacy doing those things in the snow and a windy game. If there was a game, though, that you feel like, and this would mostly be in the passing game, because, again, that's what you saw yesterday from Detroit.

You saw it the week before with L.A. against, to Buffalo, they can give up some yards. And they also can give up some points. They've given up over 80 points in the last couple of games. Yeah, look, I mean, Buffalo is scoring. Buffalo is scoring a bunch. And Josh Allen is looking like the MVP right now. But also the fact of the matter is you played them.

It wasn't like the first week of the season. It was, what, five, six games into the year. It wasn't, and you did a great job of shutting him down. So I have the evidence of what on the field that it is possible. Is it probable that they completely shut him down like that again? No. is possible. It is something within the realm of possibility that the Texans can shut down Josh Allen because they literally did it this year. That's what you would rest your hope on.

And that's the thing too is, I mean, Buffalo looks great. I mean, they just did what they did yesterday after going all the way out to L.A. and losing the Rams. But, I mean, there's nobody that I necessarily look at against the Texans, maybe the Ravens, and that might just be a mental block because you've never been able to beat them. But, I mean, you get into the playoffs. I mean, the Texans are going to feel like they can win that game. It doesn't matter where it's being played. I think, look, the bills would be favored, the Ravens would be favored, especially if you're on the road in that game and probably the Chiefs as well. I mean, but you can win all those games.

Those are all winnable games. That's where I am with this Texans team. We thought maybe that they would make it to the leap to where they're one of the favorites, one of the elites. They're not there. They're kind of where they were last year. But we need to see a little bit more sample side. We'll get three more weeks of this defense and this offense and the offensive line that has been shuffled multiple times and only playing one game to, as they are comprised right now.

So we'll figure out some more. But I'm going to say I ain't scared to anybody. I'm not. I mean, Kansas City has been walking the tightrope for the entire season. And the fact that there's still just one lost team, I mean, you hope that you're finally the ones that can say, yeah, we know how to play. Let's go fair, Barron.

Because the Texans do know how to play that game. That's what they've been playing all season long. They've been doing the same thing. Yeah, they're play. See, D'Amico Rines hasn't battled tested. They're ready for close games because that's what they've been playing all year. All right, we do have to get to a few. Chris Jones and George Carl Loftus.

We have to get to a quick break here on The Matt Thomas Show with Ross without Dan Matthews. Final segment is next. You can get in if you'd like at 713-213-212-5-790. 7-1-3-212-5-7-90. The most awkward nooner you'll ever be a part of. This is the Matt Thomas show. It was not 10 years ago. Under 10 years ago.

where Tony Romo is going to participate in some sort of fantasy football convention in Las Vegas. And the NFL said, no, we can't do that. It's too involved with gambling. We need to stay away from this. We have to keep the integrity of the league. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And now I'm watching on ESPN right now. There is a dude giving out a six-point teaser.

If you don't know what teasers are, don't learn. It's where it's alternate lines You can parlay. That's like that is inside gambling stuff Where you're going to six point teasers Suggested for ESPN bet for ESPN As the NFL is partnering with Fanddull And Drafking Sports Books and all that other stuff

It is just it's crazy to me And I do like the ability for everyone to use their own money And spend it how they want if they want to gamble on sports But it is just so much in every everybody's face now, I think it's a little much. I was a little, you know, curious where you were going with this, because with Jingle Bell Rock playing right there, I thought that you were going to say during that time frame of, that was when you and Matt reenacted this scene from Mean Girls where they all dance at their Christmas

pageant to this. No, I don't think we did. All right. All right, good. I've actually never seen Mean Girls. It's great movie. It's on my list. It's really good.

You should go watch it. But, no, I appreciate actually the opposite with leagues now. I appreciate they say the quiet part out loud. Hey, there's money to be made there? Yeah, let's do it. Why not? I would agree if it weren't for the fact there are several stories about these sports books to where if you become a winner and you're a long-term winner, they cut you off and they stop taking your action or they throttle your action and they limit you to where if you're going

to throw it in everybody's face and talk about how fun it is to be gambling, then you got to take the good with the bad books. You got to take the big money with the little money and not worry about being just predatory to literal gambling addicts and making their bunch of parlayes and there are also studies coming out about all the young people that are losing money on these parlays and stuff like that. Again, I like personal freedom and it's why I advocated for sports gambling to be legal in all 50 states and I still do. But there's a difference between legalizing something and then selling it as a lottery ticket

and a way out or a free money and the way that they're doing on these. That being said, make sure you down. draft king's pick six well i mean it's also too um parley's are suckers bets like if you if you bet a parley you are more than likely going to lose that oh don't say that dan i was saying that on air and somebody called me in and was talking about how he hits all his parlays i'm like look if you can do it that's fine okay congratulations but more often than not there's a reason why those buildings out in vegas look the way that they do and your house looks the way that it does hey i'm not talking about my house like that, dude? I'm not saying it like, you know, to insult people or put them down. But I mean,

it's also though, too, I mean, you're giving them so many outs to be able to win on their side, like, as opposed to taking the one off right there where you have just as good a shot as any. I remember a buddy of mine who does this for a living told me, he goes, dude, do not ever bet parley's. Seriously, he goes, I don't mean to yell at you, but I'm just telling you, you are giving yourself every single opportunity to lose and not enough for a chance to win. well how else am I going to fix my leaky roof at my crappy house man I could hit this parlay dude I mean how many legs are we talking here 20 a sucker is bet a sucker is born every day yeah well that's how it goes but anyways it's just kind of funny to me how the NFL has changed its

tune once the money started pouring in and I was thinking about this this weekend too is that the revenues keep going up for the NFL the advertising like we're watching Monday night football literally they're doing 30 second ads in between plays nowadays. And I'm like, where does it go from here? Where does the NFL take it to the next level to where that? We know that they're money hungry, that next level, they've already added 17 games. I guess they're probably going to add 18 games. You're going with the overseas stuff.

They're on Peacock. They're on Amazon Prime. They're taking it. So these extra avenues for revenue that have opened up that they've taken, I kind of wonder where the next one is. And then I had a thought, do you think we're going to see Jersey sponsors within the next 10 years?

Easily. On the NFL, feels like that's kind of one of the next avenues for revenue for them. Every other league has done it. I mean, every other league has done it. Yeah, baseball does the NHL do that? Oh, yeah. NHL does it. Yeah.

I know, of course, I mean, it's built in the soccer. I mean, it's been done for years and years and years, and that's where it's happening in the ML. It's part of your team, right? Literally. The team logo basically is whatever sponsor wants to shell out enough cash for. Yeah, it's like, what is it, Manchester United, whether it Volkswagen or something like that? I don't remember.

I don't want to talk about Manchester United. Even though I saw them yesterday beat Man City when they were up in the 89th minute, but I don't want to talk about that. With that, I'm ending the show on that note, Dan, because I'm getting upset. Okay. All right. Dan, thank you for hanging out. That was awesome, man. I enjoyed you.

I'll have Brian Bogussevick in at 10 a.m. tomorrow to hang out for a couple of hours. is I think I'll also be with Adam Wexler. He doesn't know this, but I was going to ask him to come out maybe an hour early as well tomorrow. I'm getting a nod. So there, Wex, Boogie, me tomorrow. Right now it is going to be Adam Wexler and Chris Gordy. It is the A team coming up next here on Sports Talk 790. Don't go anywhere.