Matt & Ross In The Morning

Brian Billick, Super Bowl-winning head coach and NFL commentator, joined "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" to preview the Houston Texans traveling to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars in an AFC South matchup. The Texans are coming off a disappointing 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans but still hold a two-game lead in the division. "There's plenty of time to get that rhythm," Billick said. Billick also gave his Super Bowl predictions and discussed the possibility of Deion Sanders coaching in the NFL.

Matt Thomas of the "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" and Dan Mathews of "The A-Team" preview the Houston Rockets facing the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday in their third game in group play for the NBA Cup. With a win tonight, the Rockets will secure a spot in the knockout round of the tournament. Matt and Dan also:

• react to the latest update regarding Alex Bregman's free agency
• discuss Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones alluding to a possible extension for head coach Mike McCarthy
• predict the outcome of the highly anticipated matchup between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies
• talk with Cougars head coach Willie Fritz about the firing of offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay
• recap Week 12 in "Connor McGovern's NFL Rewind"
• give their latest "Gut Feelings" and more.

The Houston Cougars fired offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay following Saturday's 20-10 loss to the Baylor Bears. The decision comes with the Cougars ranking last in the nation in scoring and near the bottom in total offensive. "We just didn't have the success that we wanted to have," head coach Willie Fritz said. "Unfortunately, it's part of the job that you have to do time-to-time." Quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Shawn Bell will be the interim play-caller as the Cougars look for next season's replacement. "We're going to have a nationwide search," Fritz said. "I want a guy that can play complimentary football." The Cougars' offensive struggles were amplified against Baylor as quarterback Zeon Chriss finished 13 of 24 for 126 yards passing and threw three interceptions while the run game yielded 92 yards. The Cougars will not reach bowl eligibility for the second consecutive year and will wrap up their season Saturday at No. 19 BYU.

Matt Thomas of the "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross," Dan Mathews of "The A-Team" and Chris Gordy recap the Houston Texans losing 32-27 to the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were 2-8 coming into NRG Stadium, but even after the Texans' defense and special teams created multiple turnovers, the offense went quite in the second half. With C.J. Stroud throwing interceptions, the offensive line struggling across the board and unnecessary penalties, what can be done to fix the Texans and help them turn their season around? Matt, Dan and Chris also:

• debate whether Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's job is in jeopardy
• react to Yusei Kikuchi agreeing to a three-year, $63 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels
• praise the Rockets for being 2-0 in NBA Cup games
• discuss the NBA fining guard Fred VanVleet $50,000 "for confronting and directing profane language toward the officiating staff" in the Rockets' loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday
• play "To Tell the Truth" and more.

Matt Thomas of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" and Brian McTaggart, Astros beat reporter for MLB.com, recap the "Thursday Night Football" matchup that saw the Cleveland Browns defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-19 in the season's first snow game. Matt and Brian also:

• discuss the future of the Astros
• preview the Texans and Titans game on Sunday
• give their latest "Gut Feelings"
• tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got Time"
• give their "Fantasy Five" tailgate food items
• tell their "Non-Florida Stories
• have Dr. Roto cure their fantasy football blues and more on this "Anything Goes Friday."

Matt Thomas of "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" and Chris Gordy react to the Houston Rockets defeating the Indiana Pacers 130-113 to move to an 11-5 record on the season and fourth in the Western Conference. Can the Rockets sustain this success to eventually make the playoffs? Matt and Chris also:

• preview the Texans hosting the Titans on Sunday with Jonathan Hutton
• discuss the Cougars wearing their "Houston Blue" uniform against the Baylor Bears
• review the NFL's worst teams in "Connor's Rotten Five"
• Say "I Just Don't Get It" and more.

Jonathan Hutton of “Hot Mic w/ Hutton & Withrow” in Nashville joins "The Matt Thoma Show with Ross" to preview the AFC South matchup between the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans this Sunday at NRG Stadium.

Matt Thomas of the "The Matt Thomas Show with Ross" and Chris Gordy review the latest comments from Astros general manager Dana Brown about the future of the team. What is the current situation with Alex Bregman in free agency? What will be the solution for the offensive slump at first base? Matt and Chris also:

• break down the College Football Playoff
• preview the Rockets hosting the Indiana Pacers with head coach Ime Udoka
• react to rumors about Deion Sanders being the future coach of the Dallas Cowboys
• discuss the Cougars hosting Baylor with head coach Willie Fritz
• tell people to "Shut Yo Bum Ass Up, Ain't Nobody Got time" and more.

After two strong wins against Utah and Kansas State, the Houston Cougars could not extend their winning streak, losing to the Arizona Wildcats 27-3 on Friday. While both teams struggled offensively in the first half, the Cougars were outscored 17-0 in the third quarter. "We didn't play as well as we were capable of," head coach Willie Fritz said. The Cougars had a plethora of turnovers, losing two fumbles, throwing an interception and turning the ball over on downs four times. "We got to do a much better job of hanging onto the football," Fritz said. The Cougars have another tough test ahead of them when they host Big 12 Conference rival Baylor on Saturday. "They've really played well the last four weeks." The Cougars will be wearing their "Houston Blue" uniforms against their in-state opponent, paying homage to the City of Houston.

The Rockets were one clean inbound and wide-open layup away from extending their winning streak to six games; however, Damian Lillard's driving layup with 3.9 seconds left ended up being the decider in the 101-100 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The Rockets overcame a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter and led until Lillard's closing basket. A strong defensive effort held stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to 20 and 18 points, respectively, but this created an opportunity for role players such as Brook Lopez to take over. Lopez had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. "We were helping a little bit too much at times," Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said. Before Milwaukee, the Rockets earned a quality win in Chicago, defeating the Bulls 143-107 on Sunday. Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 28 points, while Alperen Sengun recorded his second triple-double of the season. All five starters reached double figures. "If we can get stops and run, that's when we're at our best," Udoka said. Despite a loss in Milwaukee, the Rockets have found a powerful spark off the bench in Tari Eason. The forward had 14 rebounds, four steals and three blocks against the Bucks. After missing much of last season due to a lower leg injury, Eason has improved through "the progression of playing consistent minutes," and he now "impacts the game in a crazy way," Udoka said. The Rockets return to the Toyota Center on Wednesday to host the Indiana Pacers in a matchup that will feature the debut of the 2024-25 City Edition uniform. The jersey celebrates the Rockets' 1994 and 1995 championships, and many former Rockets will be in attendance to commemorate the victories. "We got to put on a show and get a win for them."