Tennessee Titans (2-8) are set to face the Houston Texans (7-4) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EST, with CBS providing coverage. The current betting line from BetMGM shows the Texans favored by 8.5 points. As for their performance against the spread this season, the Titans have struggled, standing at 1-9, while the Texans have a more balanced record at 5-5-1. Historically, the Titans lead their matchup series with a record of 23-21, although the Texans won their last encounter decisively, handing the Titans a 26-3 defeat on December 31, 2023. Looking back to last week’s performances, the Titans fell to the Vikings with a score of 23-13, while the Texans achieved a commanding victory over the Cowboys, winning 34-10.
The Titans’ offensive rankings indicate they are facing difficulties, currently placed 25th overall. Their rushing attack sits at 18th and their passing game ranks 29th, contributing to a 28th place in scoring. Conversely, their defense is performing significantly better, holding the second position overall, first in pass defense, but struggling in scoring defense, ranked 26th. The Texans’ offensive stats show a more balanced approach, ranking 14th overall, with both their rushing and passing games sitting at 13th and 14th respectively, along with scoring also at 14th. On defense, the Texans are holding strong, placed 4th overall, with a solid performance against both the run (9th) and the pass (6th), as well as an 11th ranking in scoring defense. The turnover differential highlights a stark contrast: the Titans are at minus-11, whereas the Texans boast a plus-8.
For the Titans, quarterback Will Levis is a key player to watch. In his two games back from a sprained AC joint, he has not yet secured a victory. However, his statistics show promise, completing 64.8% of his passes, amounting to 470 yards along with three touchdowns compared to just one interception. Levis has also displayed his mobility, accumulating 59 rushing yards from 12 attempts and has faced significant pressure, being sacked 12 times since returning. Last week, he made history by tying the franchise record for the longest touchdown pass at 98 yards, a record that has stood since 1962.
On the Texans’ side, running back Joe Mixon stands out after a stellar performance where he totaled 153 yards and three touchdowns in a single game. This included 109 yards rushing and 44 yards receiving. He has showcased remarkable consistency, achieving at least 90 yards from scrimmage in his past six games, the longest active streak in the NFL, and has hit the century mark in rushing yards in six of eight games this season. His impressive record includes nine rushing touchdowns over the last six games, marking a franchise milestone.
A significant matchup to keep an eye on is the Texans’ pass rush versus the Titans’ offensive line, which has been leaky this season, allowing 33 sacks, 27 of which are attributed to Levis. The right tackle position has seen a shuffle of players, with three different starters already used this season. Last week, Nicholas Petit-Frere returned to start but ended up sharing snaps with Isaiah Prince, who encountered multiple penalties for illegal formations. The Texans managed to sack Levis eight times of their two games against the Titans last year.
In terms of injuries, the Titans are dealing with several key players missing. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is set to miss his fifth game due to a quadriceps injury, and running back Tyjae Spears is currently under concussion protocol. On the Texans’ side, defensive end Will Anderson is anticipated to return after missing two contests due to an ankle issue. Defensive end Denico Autry did not participate in practice this week because of a knee injury, while cornerback Kamari Lassiter appears ready to return following a concussion.
When looking back at the series, the Texans have recently gained an upper hand, winning three straight games against the Titans, who used to be the Houston Oilers before their relocation in 1997. The teams became divisional rivals following the NFL’s realignment in 2002, and the Titans have a balanced record of 11-11 at NRG Stadium in Houston. It’s notable that the past four matchups prior to the Texans’ recent win were closely contested, each decided by a touchdown or less.
In other statistics, the Texans are competing among six AFC teams with at least seven wins this season, aiming for another AFC South title. This game marks the beginning of a two-game road trip for the Titans against teams with a combined record of 14-8. Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine leads the Titans in touchdown catches, having made five in the past six games, and achieved his third career 100-yard receiving game last week with 117 yards. Defensively, the Titans showed improvement preventing the run, allowing only 82 yards and 2.5 yards per carry last week. Additionally, outside linebacker Arden Key has recorded five sacks over his last five appearances.
In terms of special teams, Titans kicker Nick Folk is on a remarkable streak, successfully making 84 consecutive field goals on attempts of less than 40 yards. With a total of 396 field goals, he is closing in on becoming one of the few kickers to reach 400 in NFL history. For the Texans, quarterback C.J. Stroud has been statistically impressive, throwing for 257 yards and rushing for another 26 last week against the Cowboys. His home performance has been dominant, achieving a 6-1 record in his last seven starts with six games featuring a passer rating of over 90. Stroud has managed 14 touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown, marking a 114.5 passer rating in his current AFC South outings. Meanwhile, wide receiver Nico Collins continues to shine, topping the charts with an average of 103.5 yards receiving per game this season, consistently crossing the 50-yard mark during his last ten games, including the playoffs. In the defensive spotlight, de Danielle Hunter has excelled with significant tackles and sacks, while cornerback Derek Stingley leads the league in pass defenses.
For fantasy enthusiasts, Collins can be a valuable asset, as he returned last week after a hamstring injury, recording four receptions for 54 yards. His return would have been even more impressive had a 77-yard touchdown catch not been negated by a penalty. His impressive average makes him a sought-after player for fantasy lineups this week.