Titans at Texans: Live Updates, Analysis
One order of business remains for the Tennessee Titans as they face the Houston Texans in their 2020 regular-season finale at NRG Stadium.
The Titans (10-5) will attempt to win the AFC South for the first time since 2008. To do so, they must beat the Texans (4-11) or have Indianapolis lose at home to the team with the league’s worst record, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tennessee was assured of a playoff berth shortly before kickoff when the Buffalo Bills defeated the Miami Dolphins.
So, the goal for Mike Vrabel and his team is to win the division, which would mean a home game for next weekend’s wild card round.
On to kickoff … .
FIRST QUARTER
Houston won the kickoff and elected to receive. That means the Texans will start with the ball against a Tennessee defense that has given up at least 40 points twice in the last four games.
(13:48) The Texans get an early first down, but Tennessee’s defense stops them as they cross midfield, when DeShaun Watson scrambles for four yards on third-and-6.
(12:41) A delay of game penalty pushes Houston back on its side of the field, to the 48 for the punt, which Kalif Raymond fair catches at the 10.
(12:33) Tennessee’s first snap is a play-action pass complete to A.J. Brown for 21 yards. That is the good news. Bad news: Brown is injured on the play and needs attention from the medical staff.
(9:45) The Titans gain 30 yards before they are forced to punt.
Good news: Brown was back on the field for the final play of that drive:
Derrick Henry had three rushes for eight yards on that possession. He now needs 215 to reach 2,000 for the season.
(7:43) Amani Hooker with his fourth interception of the season. The ties him with Malcolm Butler for the team lead, ends Houston’s second possession after three plays and gives the ball to the offense at the Texans’ 31.
(6:52) Corey Davis drops what would have been a first-down reception on third-and-8 from the Houston 29. That leads to a field goal attempt,
(6:46) Sam Sloman, kicking in place of Stephen Gostkowski (COVID-19 reserve list) makes a 47-yard field goal that gives Tennessee the early lead. Scoring drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:55. TENNESSEE 3, HOUSTON 0
(1:45) Houston converts two third downs and gets all the way to the Tennessee 6 before its drive stalls. The Texans settle for a 24-yard field goal and a tie game. Scoring drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:59. TENNESSEE 3, HOUSTON 3
(0:00) End of the quarter. Henry has 20 yards on six carries. He is now 203 from 2,000.
The is just the second time this season the Titans have been tied at the end of the first quarter. The first was against Buffalo, which was 7-7. Tennessee eventually won that one 42-16.
SECOND QUARTER
(15:00) On the opening play of the second quarter, Derrick Henry goes 52 yards for a touchdown – and the pursuit of 2,000 is on in earnest. Scoring drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:51. TENNESSEE 10, HOUSTON 3
(12:36) Houston fakes a punt on fourth-and-2 from its own 46. Backup quarterback A.J. McCarron lines up at personal protector (as Tennessee did with Logan Woodside against Baltimore). McCarron completes a pass for 20 yards and the drive continues.
(10:28) Brooks Reed becomes the 10th different member of Tennessee’s defense with a sack this season and turned a first-and-10 at the Titans’ 18 into a second-and-17.
(9:03) Harold Landry with a sack on third-and-10 from the 18. This is the first time since Nov. 29 at Indianapolis that the Titans have had more than one sack in a game.
(8:19) Houston has to attempt a field goal, and it’s good from 43 yards. Scoring drive: 11 plays, 51 yards, 6:36. TENNESSEE 10, HOUSTON 6
(4:35) Henry sets up a 4-yard touchdown reception by A.J. Brown with a 28-yard run to the Texans’ 1. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:46. TENNESSEE 17, HOUSTON 6
That is A.J. Brown’s 11th receiving touchdown, which ties him with Drew Bennett (2004) for the most by a Tennessee receiver during the Titans era (1999-present).
Henry has 113 yards on 10 carries, which is now more than halfway to what he needs to get to 2,000 yards. He still needs 110.
(0:19) Officials rule wide receiver Brandin Cooks was out of bounds on a reception in the end zone. Video review found no reason to overturn the call.
(0:13) Houston with its third field goal attempt of the half. This one is good from 28 yards. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 4:19. TENNESSEE 17, HOUSTON 9
(0:00) End of the half. The Titans have been outgained 205-181, but two of their three scores have been touchdowns while the Texans have settled for nothing but field goals.
Tennessee is 7-1 this season, 16-2 under Mike Vrabel when leading at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER
(9:57) Derrick Henry with his second rushing touchdown of the day. On this one, he is untouched from six yards out. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:07. TENNESSEE 24, HOUSTON 9
Henry carried five times for 22 yards on that drive and is now 88 shy of 2,000. You have to wonder if the lead gets much bigger how close he has to be for Vrabel to leave him in.
(8:13) The Texans’ second touchdown of the contest comes off a flea-flicker that goes for 38 yards and provides a quick answer to the Titans’ latest score. The PAT is no good, which means Houston can’t get even with just one score. Scoring drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:45. TENNESSEE 24, HOUSTON 15
(5:40) Henry breaks free for 45 yards to the Houston 5. He now has 201 yards on 20 carries and has topped 200 in three straight against the Texans.
(4:36) Ryan Tannehill caps the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:39. TENNESSEE 31, HOUSTON 15
That is Tannehill’s sixth rushing touchdown of the season and his 10th in 26 games as the Titans’ starter. He had six in 88 starts for Miami (2012-18).
(3:06) The defense allows Houston to answer quickly again, capped by Deshaun Watson’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. The Texans got for two and get it. Video review overturns the two-point try and determines Malcolm Butler made the play short of the goal line. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 65 yards, 1:30. TENNESSEE 31, HOUSTON 21
Cooks has eight receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
(2:59) On first down, Henry gets through the line of scrimmage and looks to have room to run, but he is stripped by linebacker Zach Cunningham and Houston recovers. Henry is credited with three yards on the play.
(1:22) The Texans quickly convert the takeaway into a touchdown, a 1-yard run by David Johnson. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 28 yards, 1:32. TENNESSEE 31, HOUSTON 28
(0:00) End of the quarter. Titans will have the ball at the Houston 49 after an 11-yard completion from Tannehill to Brown on third-and-10 combined with a roughing-the-passer penalty on the play. With 15 minutes to go, Henry is 18 yards away from 2,000.
FOURTH QUARTER
(13:17) Mike Vrabel circa early 2019 resurfaces when he elects to go for it on fourth-and-11 from the Houston 37 rather than try to add to the lead. Tannehill is sacked for an 11-yard loss, and Houston has a chance to take the lead.
(10:20) For the first time in the game, the Titans trail. Houston cruises to the end zone once again, capped by a 7-yard touchdown reception by tight end Pharaoh Brown. Scoring drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 2:59. HOUSTON 35, TENNESSEE 31
Houston has scored 20 straight points.
(7:46) Derrick Henry becomes the eighth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, when he goes for six yards off right tackle. It was his 28th carry of the contest.
(1:53) An illegal formation penalty negates a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Tannehill for an apparent go-ahead touchdown.
Indianapolis has defeated Jacksonville 28-14. The Titans need to win this game to win the AFC South. With a win, Tennessee will host Baltimore next week. With a loss, it will travel to Buffalo.
(1:47) Tannehill scores his second rushing touchdown of the day, the Titans' fourth of the contest, with a 6-yard run that exploits Houston's focus on Henry. Scoring drive: 19 plays, 75 yards, 8:32. TENNESSEE 38, HOUSTON 35
(0:22) Houston forced to attempt a 51-yard field goal to tie. It is good. The big play on the drive was a 29-yard reception by Keke Coutee that got the Texans to the Tennessee 33. Scoring drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 1:24. TENNESSEE 38, HOUSTON 38
The Titans get the ball at their own 25 with 18 seconds and all three timeouts.
(0:18) Tannehill starts the drive with a bomb to A.J. Brown, which is complete for 54 yards to the Houston 21.
(0:10) Titans use their first timeout.
A four-yard run by Henry gets the Titans a little closer for the field goal attempt. It is Henry's 34th rush of the day, a career-high.
(0:04) Backup kicker Sam Sloman has a chance to play the hero in his first game for Tennessee. The attempt will be from 37 yards.
(0:00) The kick hits the right upright and goes through. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 56 yards, 0:18. TENNESSEE 41, HOUSTON 38
The Titans (11-5) win the AFC South and will host Baltimore in the wild card round.
