What went right, what went wrong for Titans vs. Texans in Week 12

It was the first meeting of the season between the team that won the AFC South a year ago, and the club that finished dead last in the division in 2023. Hence, 11 weeks into the season and not much had changed when it came to the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.

Since the start of 2023, DeMeco Ryans’ team owned a 17-11 regular-season mark. The Titans, now under the command of head coach Brian Callahan, were a combined 8-19. The Texans swept Tennessee a year ago, and owned a 4-1 record at home this season. It figured to be another long day for Callahan and company.

Then again…

The Titans pull off a shocker at Houston

What went wrong: More agony on special teams

The Titans were playing just their second divisional game this season, while the AFC South leaders owned a 3-0 mark vs. their divisional rivals this season. The game got off to an ominous start for Callahan and company. Those covering the opening kickoff for the Titans failed to wrap up Houston’s Dameon Pierce. When it was said and done, the Texans would be set up at Tennessee’s 19-yard-line thanks to Pierce’s 80-yard return.

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud found rookie tight end Cade Stover in the end zone, and just 18 seconds into the game, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn’s PAT gave the home team a quick 7-0 lead. Tennessee’s special teams entered Week 12 last in the league in both punt (17.9) and kickoff (37.9) average yards allowed per return. Houston finished with a combined 212 yards on punt (24) and kickoff (147) yards.

What went right: Will Levis ever miss?

Talk about a fascinating stat line? Titans’ quarterback Will Levis got off to an amazing start on Sunday. He completed his first 11 passes, totaling 177 yards, and yet another touchdown connection with wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. That score covered 38 yards, and capped off a 10-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 5:59. Earlier in the quarter, Nick Folk booted a 51-yard field goal, and Levis’s TD toss gave his team a 10-7 lead.

The next time the Titans got the football, Tony Pollard capped off a six-play, 95-yard march with a 10-yard touchdown run. Houston would even the score at 17-all, but Folk nailed a 56-yarder on the final play of the first half to give Callahan’s club a three-point lead. What made Levis’s performance so jaw-dropping was the fact that the second-year pro was sacked seven times in the first two quarters.

What went wrong: Opps, they did it again

There have been two constants when it comes to the Titans’ disappointing season. The turnover issues with Levis and backup quarterback Mason Rudolph, and the aforementioned problems on special teams. With just under 10 minutes left in the third quarter, Folk’s third field goal of the day, another 51-yard kick, extended Tennessee’s edge to 23-17. With less than two minutes left in the quarter, Kenneth Murray picked off C.J. Stroud, and Callahan’s club set up shop at the Houston 39 with 1:30 left in the quarter.

On the drive’s third play, Levis was intercepted by Houston’s Jimmie Ward and he returned the theft 65 yards for a TD. Down 24-23 early in the fourth quarter, the Tennessee defense forced a punt. Rookie Jha’Quan Jackson muffed the ball, Houston recovered--setting up a field goal that extended their lead to 27-23.

What went right: Turnabout is fairly unpredictable

Tennessee’s special teams, save for Folk, almost cost Callahan’s team dearly. However, the game changed dramatically with less than 10 minutes to play. Now down by four points, the Titans had the ball on their own 30-yard line following a Houston kickoff into the end zone. On the next play, Levis hit tight end Chig Okonkwo with a short pass, and the third-year pro did the rest on his way to a 70-yard score.

Folk hit the PAT and Tennessee was up by three points, and Houston had an opportunity to tie the score with less than two minutes to play. However, Fairbairn pushed a 28-yard field goal attempt to the left, and the Titans maintained their three-point lead. Stroud had a chance, albeit a long shot, to force overtime. He was sacked in the end zone for a safety by Harold Landry III, the final points in the Titans’ 32-27 triumph.

What went right: Better late than never

Tennessee’s pass rush has been a bit disappointing this season, and it wasn’t a major factor for most of Sunday’s contest. However, Dennard Wilson’s defense didn’t give up much real estate on Sunday all afternoon, and this unit saved its best work for the second half. All told, the Titans limited Houston to only 260 total yards for the game. In the final two quarters, the Texans were limited to a combined 83 yards of offense, and the team’s only touchdown came on Ward’s pick-six.

Back to that aforementioned pass rush, which had the final say on Sunday with Landry’s sack of Stroud in the end zone for a safety with just 1:13 to play. It’s interesting to note that Wilson’s defenders failed to record a sack in the first three quarters. They then dropped Houston’s second-year signal-caller four times in the final 12-plus minutes on Sunday.