After rocking the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills 42-16, the first place (in the AFC South -AND- AFC overall) 4-0 Tennessee Titans are playing host to the 1-4 Houston Texans at high noon on Sunday. The current spread has this one at Titans -3.5 with an O/U of 52.5 points (I like the over here).
You might think the Titans should be favored by more than that given that game against the Bills and the record of the Texans. But, take a closer look – the Texans have played some tough, tough teams, but they still have plenty of weaponry to make this one a fun game. So, what do the Titans have to do to make sure they get the dub at home? LFG.
Titans Keys to Victory: vs. Texans
Run the damn ball
I know, I know – I’ve been teeing off on the national media for a year now, saying that the Titans aren’t just a running team, and that folks should be respecting that Titans passing attack. But, this is a match-up that definitely dictates a strong dedication to the run game. It’s a game that the Titans should handle business in, but that’s predicated on taking advantage of this match-up.
The Texans are allowing 160.4 rushing yards per game. You’ve got Derrick Henry. I mean, hell – homeboy has to be licking his chops to get out there and have at it. But, it doesn’t have to just be Henry. Jeremy McNichols has shown flashes, and Ryan Tannehill has shown us that he’s more than capable as a runner. Just work that defense, control the clock, and keep Deshaun Watson on the sideline and you’re golden.
Get sacks
We’ve said ‘bend don’t break’ quite often with this Titans defense this season. At times, simply pressuring quarterbacks was enough, but I don’t like that strategy against Watson. They’re going to have to get sacks. He’s going to hold on to that ball and look for big plays downfield, but the longer you ask your secondary to cover those shifty Texans receivers, the more it favors the Texans offense. That’s why it’s imperative that the Titans defense actually wraps him up when they get the chance to. If he’s comfortable in the pocket, with all the speed the Texans have at wideout, he’s going to make some explosive plays. That could lead to a shootout in this game.
Slow down Cooks and Fuller
The speed the Texans have in Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller makes me a tad nervous. I mean, that’s the one thing we talked about all offseason when asking, “how do the Titans get over the Kansas City hump?” Get faster in the secondary! Laugh at the 1-4 start all you want, but the Texans have similar receivers in the speed department, and the Titans will be down Adoreé Jackson. Kristian Fulton has been activated off the covid list, but will he be in game shape? They have to figure out a way to keep these guys from going off. If this one turns into a shootout, the Texans could make it interesting.
On the latest episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, I hopped on with James Carlson of The Texans Unfiltered Podcast to preview Sunday’s game and take a deep dive on the Texans, including how they ended up at 1-4, Bill O’Brien, Deshaun Watson, and much more. You can check that out here:
Listen to “Ep. 40: Previewing Titans-Texans with James Carlson of Texans Unfiltered” on Spreaker.Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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