The Tennessee Titans demonstrated resilience as they pushed through a challenging game. Despite facing eight sacks and committing three turnovers, they managed to hold off a third consecutive losing season for at least another week. The Titans not only secured the game-winning touchdown with a single-play drive in the fourth quarter but also delivered a pair of crucial sacks that ultimately led to a safety, resulting in a 32-27 victory against the Houston Texans, who are leading the AFC South.
First-year head coach Brian Callahan emphasized that the Titans’ (3-8) performance was an important validation in the NFL, where outcomes are strictly measured in wins and losses. “We finally get a chance against a really good team on the road in the division to show what we’re made of,” Callahan stated. “This is the team we think we’re capable of being. It’s the team that I’ve believed in all year long.” Running back Tony Pollard shared that the Titans are gaining valuable lessons through their struggles, which can often fatigue teams this late in the season. “Eventually, they’ll start turning over,” he remarked.
In terms of performance, the Titans’ offense stood out. They achieved their highest score of the season and surpassed their average with 20 points by halftime. Quarterback Will Levis, who started and concluded his first win of the season, notably completed his first 11 passes and connected with seven different receivers. Levis ended the game with 278 passing yards and tossed two touchdown passes. Pollard complemented the offense with a notable 119 yards rushing, while the Titans controlled possession, keeping the ball for over 34 minutes and making four plays that traveled 27 yards or more, with Levis being key in three of those plays.
However, the special teams unit remains an area needing improvement. Coordinator Colt Anderson faced mounting pressure, especially after the Texans capitalized on an 80-yard return on the opening kickoff. The Titans subsequently allowed a touchdown on the very first play of the game from scrimmage — a rare occurrence in the NFL since 2000. Matters worsened when rookie Jha’quan Jackson fumbled a punt in the third quarter, though the Titans only conceded a field goal following that mistake. Special teams statistics showed the Texans were able to average 36.8 yards per kickoff return, a concerning figure.
Among the standout performers was tight end Chig Okonkwo, whose 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown scored was a career milestone, surpassing his total yardage in any of his previous 44 games. This significant score proved to be the game-winner.
On the flip side, Levis has improved in some areas, completing 67.9% of his passes over his last three starts with five touchdown passes and only two interceptions, achieving a passer rating of 107.2. However, Callahan acknowledged the need to reduce the number of sacks, as the team cannot afford to give up eight sacks per game. Levis must become more aware of impending pressure to mitigate the frequency of sacks; he suffered a total of eight sacks in this matchup alone. This brought his season total to 35 sacks in eight games, placing him among the most sacked quarterbacks in the league.
In terms of personnel, the Titans faced the Texans without starting safety Amari Hooker due to illness. Callahan mentioned they would be allowing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to practice as he works towards a return from injured reserve.
As the Titans look ahead, they have the potential for a confidence boost stemming from this road victory against the AFC South leaders and defending champions. They will complete their two-game road trip by facing Washington (7-5), who is currently on a three-game losing streak. The Titans’ final stretch of the season consists of four games within the AFC South as they cling to a slim chance of making the playoffs while fans also hope for a higher draft pick.