WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Houston Astros dropped 11 games under .500. They got rid of their general manager in August. They failed to finish with a winning record.
And they won the AL West for the fifth time in six years.
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Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña celebrates with teammates after they clinched the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros pose for a photo after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros' Brice Matthews, center, celebrates with teammates after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros' Christian Vázquez walks to the batting cages for a celebration after the team clinched the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros celebrate after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
“It’s been a roller coaster of a season, but just to be here and know that the division is back in Houston, that the crown is back, it’s a good feeling,” manager Joe Espada said Sunday after the Astros clinched the title on the final day of the regular season.
Nick Allen had just doubled leading off the eighth inning with Houston leading the Athletics by eight runs when Texas lost 6-4 at Minnesota, assuring the Astros of their ninth postseason trip in 10 years after missing out in 2025.
Houston will host the Chicago White Sox in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday. The Astros finished one game ahead of Texas (80-82) but would have earned the division title even with a defeat Sunday because they held the tiebreaker.
Houston (81-81) had the lowest winning percentage for a team reaching the playoffs in a non-shortened season, breaking the mark set when the 2005 San Diego Padres went 82-80.
“About early May, we were in a tough spot. Any other team would have folded, but these guys chose not to,” Espada said following his team's 9-0 victory over the A's. “It’s about character and this team don’t quit, they fight.”
Yordan Alvarez won the AL batting title with an MLB-best .316 average — the lowest ever for the big league leader. He had 42 homers and 106 RBIs.
“I even told the guys in there that even though I hit 40 home runs, I think the batting title was something I always wanted," Alvarez said.
Star infielder Carlos Correa didn't play after May 4 because of a torn tendon in his left ankle that needed surgery.
Right-hander Hunter Brown, a 2025 All-Star, didn't pitch for the Astros between March 3 and June 16 because of a strained right shoulder.
“Every team deals with adversity, and at that time, it was just ours,” Brown said.
Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña, the 2022 World Series MVP, was sidelined between April 11 and May 18 by a strained right hamstring and between June 28 and July 10 by a strained left calf. All-Star closer Josh Hader didn't pitch until June 3 because of left biceps tendinitis.
Houston was 20-31 through May 20 but dropped only as much as six games out of first place in a weak division.
The Astros took sole possession of first with an 11-2 win over the Rangers on July 31 and held at least a share of the lead for most of the rest of the season.
“All games in the big leagues are important, and today came down to winning the last one," Brown said. “We’ve been playing playoff baseball for the last couple of weeks. We’re ready to go.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
Houston Astros' Jeremy Peña celebrates with teammates after they clinched the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros pose for a photo after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros' Brice Matthews, center, celebrates with teammates after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros' Christian Vázquez walks to the batting cages for a celebration after the team clinched the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros celebrate after clinching the AL West division title in a baseball game against the Athletics, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
DENVER (AP) — Bo Nix didn't flinch from his slow start and Talanoa Hufanga didn't lose faith after dropping two interceptions Sunday night.
Both bounced back in a big way, rallying the Denver Broncos past Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 in the latest come-from-behind thriller that's become so common in the Mile High City.
Nix's keeper from inches outside the goal line with 47 seconds left capped a wild final five minutes that included a 66-yard pick-6 by Hufanga, a quick touchdown response by Los Angeles and a game-sealing second picked-off pass by Denver's do-everything safety.
“I actually had to have a pep talk with myself,” after dropping two interceptions earlier in the game, said Hufanga, who finished with a sack, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hit and three pass breakups to go with his pair of interceptions.
The Broncos (2-1) trailed 16-0 at halftime and went three-and-out to start the second half but rallied for a comeback, one-score win for the second straight week.
“In the huddle we feel a lot of belief that we've been there before and we have what it takes to go down against a really good defense and score points,” said Nix, who put the Broncos in front by reaching over the scrum with both hands squeezing the football.
Matthew Stafford, whose 17 comebacks in the last 2 minutes are the most by any active quarterback, quickly drove the Rams to the Denver 14, where he spiked the ball with 2 seconds left.
After false start moved the ball back to the 19, the Rams (1-2) sent out five receivers but Hufanga secured his second interception, this one in the end zone.
“Obviously a gutsy win,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.
“I mean, it's a tough one,” Stafford said after the Rams, preseason favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, suffered a second loss in three weeks.
Hufanga's 66-yard pick-6 with 4:49 left gave Denver its first lead at 23-19. He jumped in front of running back Kyren Williams, cradled Stafford’s pass and weaved his way down the field, past the hard-charging QB and into the end zone.
“To be honest, Matt Stafford is a lot faster than you think,” Hufanga said. “I might be slow, but he's fast. I'll give him his credit because I had to cut back on that play.”
“Hufanga did a really nice job of fighting through the Y (receiver) and I left it a little bit back behind him,” Stafford lamented. "If I just dirt it, or whatever, we come away with three points. I’ll take myself trying to make those plays all day.”
Hufanga said he had told himself to stay patient for more opportunities to come after dropping two earlier potential interceptions of Stafford. “And man, two big plays.”
Just four plays later, however, Stafford hit Konata Mumpfield from 48 yards out when cornerback Riley Moss fell down, restoring the Rams' lead at 26-23.
Nix then drove Denver 65 yards in 10 plays with the aid of three defensive penalties and, with the ball nearly touching the goal line, leaped over the pile for the go-ahead TD. Nix had completions of 39 and 21 yards on that drive.
Cornerback Justin Wallace would have had his second interception of the night on that drive, but he was whistled for defensive pass interference on Pat Bryant on third-and-6 from the LA 11. That gave Denver a new set of downs at the 7.
“You try to be physical as a DB,” Rams safety Quentin Lake said. “Sometimes, you know, I think at the end of the day, as you know, the rules are the rules. Can’t be too handsy. It’s unfortunate.”
The Rams led 16-0 at halftime but it was tied going into the fourth after Nix threw a pair of touchdown passes and made two 2-point conversion throws: “We knew it was just a two-score game,” said Nix.
Harrison Mevis' fourth field goal, which followed an interception by Wallace, restored LA's lead at 19-16. He was also good from 36, 35 and 40 yards before halftime.
The Broncos cut their deficit in half on Nix's 5-yard strike to Bryant and 2-point conversion pass to Jaylen Waddle on a throw between the hands of Wallace midway through the third quarter. The Broncos tied it on another touchdown and 2-pointer. Nate Adkins caught an 8-yard throw from Nix, who found Bryant again to tie the game.
Stafford finished 30 for 55 for 390 yards. He threw 32 passes in the first half, the most of his career. With Puca Nacua out again with a hip injury, Davante Adams had seven receptions for 137 yards, giving him 15 catches for 332 yards over his last two games, the best such stretch of his career.
Rams: CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder) got hurt just before halftime while guarding Courtland Sutton and was carted to the locker room from the sideline. LA lost two tight ends on its first touchdown drive, although Terrance Ferguson (ankle) returned on the Rams' next series. Also injured on the drive was Colby Parkinson (shoulder).
Broncos: Denver was without its Game 2 hero, rookie RB Jonah Coleman, who went on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain after his TD run secured the Broncos' 20-13 win over Jacksonville.
Rams: At Philadelphia next Sunday.
Broncos: Visit San Francisco next Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Los Angeles Rams running back Dean Connors, left, is tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams catches a pass against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
