Titans vs. Texans: Live Updates, Analysis
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans play their second game in five days when they face the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium.
Tennessee (4-0) is one of four undefeated teams in the NFL following a 42-16 rout of previously unbeaten Buffalo on Tuesday.
Houston (1-4) fired head coach Bill O’Brien after it started the season with four straight losses. The Texans got their first win last Sunday under interim head coach Romeo Crennel.
SERIES HISTORY
The Titans lead the overall series 19-17. The teams have split the two regular-season meetings each of the last four years. Tennessee has not swept the season series since 2007.
INACTIVES
Tennessee: CB Chris Jackson, C Daniel Munyer, ILB Will Compton, T Isaiah Wilson and DE Matt Dickerson.
Houston: WR Keke Coutee, CB Cornell Armstrong, RB Buddy Howell, LB Peter Kalambayi, T Charlie Heck and TE Joran Akins.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“Definitely weird. It was definitely interesting, and of course good to see them in a live action, live game, and then also watch the film. It was definitely different, and we’ve got to make sure we’re getting ready to go up there and play a tough, physical game for four quarters.” – Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson, on watching the Titans play last Tuesday.
On to the game.
FIRST QUARTER
The Texans won the toss and deferred their option to the second half.
The opening kickoff is a touchback. Titans start with the ball at their own 25.
(14:18) Rough start for Tennessee’s offense. False start called against center Ben Jones before the first play, and then three-and-out on three passes, two of which were incomplete.
(13:25) Jeffery Simmons is back after missing one game due to the coronavirus, and he is making his presence felt. He tackled running back David Johnson after a 1-yard gain on Houston’s first play and forced Deshaun Watson to scramble (it was nearly a sack) on the second.
(11:30) Kenny Vaccaro untouched on a blitz, forces an incomplete pass on third-and-6 from the Houston 44, which forces the Texans to punt.
(11:20) Derrick Henry’s first carry of the game goes for 18 yards, which is his longest of the season. His previous best was 16 yards at Minnesota.
(6:57) Anthony Firkser with his first touchdown of the season on a 7-yard reception. Firkser also had a 10-yard catch and drew a third-down, pass-interference penalty on the way to the end zone. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:32. TENNESSEE 7, HOUSTON 0
The Titans have four first-quarter touchdowns thus far this season. All of them have come in home games. In their two road games, they have managed just two first-quarter field goals.
(5:39) Tennessee’s defense forces a three-and-out that gives the ball immediately back to the defense.
(5:26) Derrick Henry starts a second straight drive with a big gain. This one goes for 34 yards and immediately gets the Titans across midfield.
(0:12) A.J. Brown with his second touchdown reception in as many games. This one covers six yards, and the Titans are making it look easy early. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 5:14. TENNESSEE 14, HOUSTON 0
Tennessee’s offense has now scored 12 touchdowns on 12 red zone possessions in nine quarters at Nissan Stadium. Overall, it has 16 touchdowns and three field goals on 19 red zone possessions.
End of the first quarter. Derrick Henry already has 62 yards on eight carries. Ryan Tannehill has completed 9 of 13 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans have outgained the Texans 149-37.
SECOND QUARTER
(9:38) Houston answers and caps a long drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to tight end Darren Fells on fourth-and-goal. Scoring drive: 13 plays, 82 yards, 6:16. TENNESSEE 14, HOUSTON 7
Tennessee’s defense has allowed at least one scoring drive of 10 plays or more in every game this season. In all, that unit has allowed seven TDs and two FGs on drives of 10-plus plays.
(6:08) Anthony Firkser with his fourth reception of the game, which ties his career-high. He leads the Titans with four catches for 31 yards. He also had four against Houston in 2018 and against Jacksonville earlier this season.
(3:34) Ryan Tannehill’s third touchdown pass of the day goes to Adam Humphries and covers 22 yards. After a three-and-out to start the contest, the offense has scored tuchdowns on three straight possessions. Scoring drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 5:22. TENNESSEE 21, HOUSTON 7
Tannehill now with 12 touchdown passes, one interception on the season.
This is Tannehill’s 20th career game with three or more touchdown passes. Six have come for the Titans.
(0:00) Houston drives to the Tennessee 20 before it runs out of time and settles for a 38-yard field goal. Another scoring drive of 10-plus plays allowed by the Titans’ defense. Scoring drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 3:34. TENNESSEE 21, HOUSTON 10
Texans get the ball to start the second half. They will have a chance to cut into their deficit even further.
Titans have outgained the Texans 234-189 and have a 16-10 edge in first downs. Derrick Henry with 85 yards on 13 carries. DaQuan Jones has a sack and two tackles for loss for the defense.
THIRD QUARTER
(13:33) Titans’ defense starts the second half with a three-and-out. The offense will start at its own 20 following a 4-yard punt return from Kalif Raymond.
(10:52) With a 2-yard gain, Derrick Henry gets to 100 yards on the day (16 carries, 100 yards). That’s three times in five games this season, eight times in his last 11 he has had 100 or more.
(8:56) The offense comes away with nothing when Stephen Gostkowski’s 27-yard field goal attempt is blocked. That is Gostkowski’s first missed field goal since Week 1 at Denver.
(7:42) Tight end Darren Fells is becoming a problem for Tennessee’s defense. Fells has two catches for 46 yards on this drive, five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown on the day.
(6:15) Two plays after a pass interference call against rookie cornerback Kristian Fulton made it first-and-goal at the 1, the Texans run it in with David Johnson. Scoring drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:32. TENNESSEE 21, HOUSTON 17
This game just got a bit more interesting.
(5:57) Two plays after left tackle Taylor Lewan limps off with an apparent knee injury, J.J. Watt whips Lewan’s replacement, Ty Sambrailo, for a sack and forced fumble. Houston recovers at the Titans’ 4.
(4:35) Tennessee’s defense made it tough, but on third-and-goal from the 4, Deshaun Watson scrambles around long enough to find Randall Cobb with a touchdown pass. Titans get a break when Houston misses the PAT. Scoring drive: 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:22. HOUSTON 23, TENNESSEE 21
Lewan’s return is questionable. Jonnu Smith also questionable with an ankle injury.
Two games in five days after two weeks of uncertainty and little practice time due to the COVID-19 outbreak might finally be catching up to the Titans.
End of the third quarter. Titans on the move but will face a third-and-13 from the Houston 29 to start the fourth. Big playon this drive was a 20-yard run by Jeremy McNichols.
FOURTH QUARTER
(14:18) McNichols picks up 10 yards on a draw to set up a 37-yard field goal attempt. Gostkowski misses, and the wheels continue to fall off what was a well-oiled machine early in this game.
(10:29) Finally, a positive play for the Titans. Jeffery Simmons’ sack on third-and-8 from the Tennessee 39 costs the Texans 12 yards and forces them to punt. Tennessee’s offense will start from its own 6.
(9:23) Derrick Henry has been building to it all day, and it finally happens. The big man outruns Houston’s defense for a 94-yard touchdown run that restores a little order to the proceedings. The Titans tack on a two-point conversion with a Ryan Tannehill-to-Nick Westbrook—Ikhine pass. Scoring drive: 1 play, 94 yards, 0:14. TENNESSEE 29, HOUSTON 23
(8:44) The Texans answer quickly. Malcolm Butler gets beat for a 53-yard touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Wil Fuller. This time the PAT is good, and the Titans trail again. Scoring drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:46. HOUSTON 30, TENNESSEE 29
(8:37) On Tennessee’s first play of the ensuing possession, Ryan Tannehill’s attempt to hit Kalif Raymond on a deep post – something of a signature pattern for Raymond – is intercepted by Bradley Roby. The momentum is completely back with the Texans at this point.
(1:53) For the second time, Houston converts on fourth-and-goal from the 1. This time Watson completes a pass to Brandin Cooks. The Texans attempt to put the game out of reach with a two-point conversion but fail. Scoring drive: 15 plays, 69 yards, 6:40. HOUSTON 36, TENNESSEE 29
Tennessee trails by seven and has one timeout remaining as the offense starts from its own 24 with 1:45 to play.
(0:04) After an incompletion to start, Ryan Tannehill connects on eight straight passes capped by a 7-yard touchdown throw to A.J. Brown. The breakdown on the drive: Adam Humphries 3-24, Anthony Firkser 2-30, Jeremy McNichols 1-9, Kalif Raymond 1-6 and Brown 1-7 TD. Scoring drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 1:46. TENNESSEE 36, HOUSTON 36
OVERTIME
The Titans win the coin toss and will get the ball to start the overtime.
Kalif Raymond returns it to the 18. The offense will start from there.
(9:19) After a 2-yard run on first down, Derrick Henry turns a short pass into a 53-yard reception, and the Titans have it at the Houston 27.
(6:30) Derrick Henry from the Wildcat goes to the left for five yards and a touchdown. Scoring drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 3:30. TENNESSEE 44, HOUSTON 38
The Titans win and show some real hear in doing so.
