Titans vs. Texans predictions for Week 15
Erik Bacharach, Nashville TennesseanPublished 5:00 a.m. CT Dec. 12, 2019
Offense: TitansThe Titans totaled 552 yards – the most by the franchise since Nov. 10, 1991 (583 vs. Dallas) – and averaged a franchise-record 9.4 yards per play last week against the Raiders. So yeah, things are going well for a unit that has averaged 31.4 points since Week 7. The Texans' offense has plenty of firepower, too – it ranks 11th with 24.4 points per game and ninth with 376 yards per game – but it's not churning as effectively as Tennessee’s right now.
Defense: Titans
The nod in this category goes to the team that didn’t allow the Broncos and rookie quarterback Drew Lock (making only his second career start) to build a 31-3 lead by halftime in Week 14. Houston has struggled defensively all season, ranking 25th in yards allowed per game (375.3) and tied for 20th in points allowed (23.8). The Titans rank 19th (361.6) and ninth (19.6) in those two categories, respectively.
Special teams: Texans
The Titans have arguably the league’s best punter in Brett Kern. They’ve been solid on returns, both offensively and defensively. But field-goal kicking continues to be a liability after Ryan Succop missed yet another attempt last week to bring him to 1-for-5 on field goals this season. Houston’s Ka'imi Fairbairn is 16-for-21 on field goals this season.
Intangibles: Titans
No team is hotter right now than the Titans, who have gone 6-1 since Ryan Tannehill took over as starting quarterback in Week 7. And they’ve been consistent at Nissan Stadium; a win Sunday would give the Titans 21 wins in their 27 most recent home games.
Coaching: Titans
Titans coach Mike Vrabel gives credit to Bill O’Brien for “(bringing) me into this league from a coaching perspective. I would say that he probably prepared me more than anybody for this job.” At the moment, though, Vrabel gets credit for leading the hottest team in the NFL, and O’Brien’s Texans are coming off the most shocking result of Week 14 after getting embarrassed by lowly Denver.
Predictions
Erik Bacharach, Titans beat writer
Titans 31, Texans 28: Houston doesn’t have the defense to stop the multi-faceted Titans offense, which tops 30 points for a fifth straight game. With first place in the division on the line, the Titans give the home crowd reason to celebrate.
Tommy Deas, Tennessean sports director
Titans 35, Texans 27: The Texans aren’t as good as they looked against the Patriots or as bad as they looked against the Broncos. The Titans are every bit as good as they have seemed in this run. Expect a loud, fun atmosphere in Nissan Stadium as the Titans keep it going.
Gentry Estes, sports columnist
Titans 27, Texans 20: The Titans are playing too well to think it will cease at home against a capable – but unpredictable – Texans team that has been even more impossible to project week to week than the Titans have been.