by John OehserFiled under: Texans, Titans, AFC South
The Titans play host to the Texans Sunday in a game that two months ago looked like a big-time matchup with playoff implications.The season didn't turn out that way.
Instead, when the teams play Sunday it will be a game between teams whose playoff chances are clarified by the word "mathematical" and whose coaches face uncertain futures as the season approaches a disappointing end.
The Texans, after a 5-2 start, have lost their last six games, with the season in a sense defined by a 19-16 loss to Washington in November that ended with a Redskins field goal in overtime. Titans quarterback Vince Young injured his thumb during the game, argued with coach Jeff Fisher in the locker room afterward and was placed on injured reserve two days later.
The Titans haven't won since, and until scoring four touchdowns in a 30-28 loss to Indianapolis last Thursday, they had a streak of 14 consecutive quarters without an offensive touchdowns. Running back Chris Johnson, after rushing for more than 2,000 yards last season, has had his production drop primarily because of an ineffective passing games teams have been able to stack the line of scrimmage to stop him. Even the November acquisition of wide receiver Randy Moss has meant little. He has six receptions in five games since his arrival and wasn't targeted against the Colts.
The Texans began the season with equally high hopes.
Having won their final four games last season to finish with a winning record for the first time in franchise history, the Texans entered the season with a well-documented goal of making their first postseason appearance. Those hopes grew early in the season when the Texans not only beat the Colts in the regular-season opener, but held first place in the AFC South after six games at 4-2.
The Texans have lost six of seven games since, with the lone victory over the Titans -- 20-0 -- four weeks ago. The Texans four times during that span have rallied from double-digit second-half deficits only to lose. Three of the losses came in the final seconds of regulation or overtime -- to the postseason contending New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens.
Who: Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans.
Where: LP Field; Nashville, Tenn.
When: Sunday, December 19, 1 p.m.
TV Coverage: CBS.
Players to Watch: Titans quarterback Kerry Collins has completed 104 of 178 passes for 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns with five interceptions. . . . Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has completed 289 of 465 passes for 3,482 yards and 20 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. . . . Houston running back Arian Foster leads the NFL in rushing with 1,330 yards and 13 touchdowns on 266 carries. . . . Titans running back Chris Johnson has rushed for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns on 258 carries. . . . Titans wide receivers Kenny Britt and Nate Washington have caught 27 and 36 passes for 473 and 592 yards with seven and five touchdowns, respectively. . . . Wide receiver Randy Moss has five receptions for 62 yards since joining the Titans. . . . Wide receiver Andre Johnson has 80 receptions for 1,158 yards and seven touchdowns this season for the Texans and Foster has 54 receptions for 504 yards. . . . Texans defensive end Mario Williams has 8.5 sacks this season. . . . Defensive end Jason Babin has a team-high 10 sacks for Tennessee.
Line: Titans by 1.5
Final Score: Titans 31 Texans 17
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