Steve Irvine’s Stallions vs Gamblers Preview
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 5, 2026
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS AT HOUSTON GAMBLERS
Kickoff time, site: 5 p.m. Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, Texas
TV: NFL Network
Records: Birmingham (1-0); Houston (0-1)
Coaches: AJ McCarron (Birmingham); Kevin Sumlin (Houston).
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN STALLIONS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
Will the tight ends get involved? Plenty has been said about the wide receivers and running backs for the Stallions. But the Birmingham offense also has a pair of quality tight ends in Jordan Thomas and Tyler Davis. Each of them had just one catch in the opener. At some point this season, perhaps tonight in Houston, expect both to have a big game.
How much will receiver Daewood Davis be involved? First things first, the 6-foot, 196-pound Davis is one of the better wide receivers in the league. He was inactive in the opening game while “dealing with a leg issue,” according to McCarron. He is healthy now and could very well be part of the rotation. Not exactly good news for a Houston defense that allowed 376 passing yards in the opener.
Can the Stallions find a way to finish drives with points? Obviously, McCarron would rather his team’s offense completes drives with touchdowns. When that doesn’t happen, though, Jonathan Garibay needs to have a better day than he did in the opener. Giving away points is not part of the recipe for success.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH WHEN THE GAMBLERS HAVE THE FOOTBALL
How many quarterbacks will Houston play? Taulia Tagovailoa is the No. 3 quarterback on Houston’s depth chart. Chances are slim, obviously, that he’ll play, even though it wouldn’t be shocking if he moves up the depth chart eventually. Sumlin played two quarterbacks in the opener and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hunter Dekker and Nolan Henderson each getting turns. Dekkers was decidedly more successful in the opening week loss to Dallas. Dekker was 19-for-29 for 277 yards and Henderson was 3-for-9 for 34 yards with two interceptions. Neither quarterback threw a touchdown pass in the 36-17 loss to the Dallas Renegades.
Will defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey play a big role? The former All-UFL defensive tackle for the Stallions returned to the roster this week. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Winfrey was one of the most dominant players in the UFL in 2024. He made the Dallas Cowboys roster this past season but was put on injured reserved early in the season with a back injury. He returned to the field late in the season but was recently released by the Cowboys. His road back to the NFL again goes through Birmingham.
Can the Stallions keep Houston one-dimensional? Houston couldn’t run the ball in the opener. Or perhaps the Gamblers chose not to run. Either way, it makes life difficult when an offense has 42 yards on 11 carries. And five carries for 36 yards came from quarterbacks.