Texas Sports Nation previews your weekend in new ways.
On TV/Radio: NBC’s Collinsworth says Texans could force AFC shakeup; FS1’s Pierzynski talks Astros-Red Sox
Cris Collinsworth has already seen some interesting things from the Chiefs and the Texans, and it wouldn’t surprise him to see more Sunday night at NRG Stadium.
Both teams already have defied conventional wisdom, the Chiefs by beating the Patriots on the road and the Texans coming within a smidgen of doing so with a rookie at quarterback. Sunday’s outcome, Collinsworth said, could set a new level of expectations for the balance of the season.
“If Houston knocks off the last undefeated team and Deshaun Watson wins another game and the defense plays well again, you have to reexamine the entire AFC at that point,” said Collinsworth, who will call Sunday’s game with Al Michaels on NBC and KPRC (Channel 2).
“I realize you have to be patient with the Patriots, because they will come on at the end, Oakland will get Derek Carr back, and Denver has a great defense. Pittsburgh is going to be tough. But the AFC is as wide-open as I can remember, and this game will be a significant one.”
Collinsworth worked Watson’s first start against Cincinnati on a Thursday night game and the Chiefs’ 42-27 win over New England in the Thursday night season opener. He said he has been most impressed thus far by Watson’s leadership ability.
“When you meet him, you get a broader picture of why this young man has been so successful. And when you see what he did in helping out (three Texans cafeteria employees affected by Hurricane Harvey), you see that he has an amazing perspective for someone so young on how to lead.
“You can see the belief in his ability to win games just growing. I don’t think it’s growing in him, since he’s always believed in himself, but you see it with the team and with the coaching staff.”
Pierzynski on Astros/Sox
A.J. Pierzynski, who will help call the balance of the Red Sox-Astros series for FS1, has fond memories of Houston from 2005, when he won a World Series ring as a veteran free-agent acquisition by the White Sox.
Given his history, he also has a soft spot for the likes of Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran of the Astros, Matt Holliday of the Yankees and Rajai Davis of the Red Sox, all of whom were brought in before or during the season to add seasoning to their respective teams.
“Baseball has become a young man’s sport, since these teams can’t wait to show off their prospects,” Pierzynski said. “You need veteran guys like Beltran or a guy in your rotation, like Justin Verlander, to show the young guys how to do it.”
Pierzynski said he would have given the edge to the Red Sox had the two teams played earlier in the year but now gives a slight nod to the Astros with the Verlander acquisition and the Red Sox’s recent injury woes.
“One team can get hot at the plate, especially in a five-game series, but you can’t outslug the other team all the way through,” he said. “I’d rather have better pitching than more hitting.”
As a veteran of the White Sox team that beat the Astros in 2005, Pierzynski is happy to be coming back to Minute Maid Park but dismayed by the center-field changes.
“I loved Tal’s Hill,” he said. “It was just like Detroit, with the flag pole in play. I’m sorry it’s gone.”
A call for dialogue
Cris Collinsworth had several hours to consider what he was going to say Sept. 24 on NBC’s “Football Night in America” at the end of a long day of protests and harsh feelings.
“Well, if you’re going to suggest that the president should apologize, you’d better think about it for a while,” he said.
Colllinsworth’s suggestion that President Donald Trump misspoke by referring to NFL players as “sons of bitches” was arguably the most memorable comment of the day. A week and change later, he stands by his comments.
“I definitely thought about what I was going to say,” he said. “I know those guys who were taking a knee. I’ve met most of them. I knew this was about inequality and all those things, but it also was about the president at that point. I wanted him to understand that there was a way out of it, and I still think there is.
“If he would meet those guys, I think he would be overwhelmed by some of the stories he would hear. It’s only when you hear these stories that you get the full picture of what these guys have experienced in their lifetimes.”
Four DVRs, no waiting
I don’t know whether to cite the blowout nature of the game or viewer disenchantment over national anthem protests, but the 19.4 Nielsen average on KHOU (Channel 11) for the Texans’ win Sunday over the Titans was considerably lower than I would have expected. … David Gow’s SB Nation Radio flagship can now be heard at K231CN (94.1 FM) and at KFNC (97.5-2 FM). … Joe Tessitore and Todd Blackledge will call Alabama-Texas A&M on Saturday night on ESPN. Since the Texans have a Sunday night game, Andre Ware gets a rare night game assignment, calling Missouri-Kentucky on SEC Network. … For the first time since 2009, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will air Saturday from TCU’s campus in Fort Worth. “GameDay’s” last visit was in 2009, and I remember talking that day with Craig Thompson, the Mountain West commissioner, about TCU’s future in the league. Much has changed since that day. … ExFox Sports host Katie Nolan has signed with ESPN and begins work Oct. 16. … NBC will not renew its rights deal with Formula One.