Titans (

16.25) at
Texans (

24.25)

Game Overview ::

By MIKE JOHNSON >>

• The Titans have scored over 20 points only one time all season and rank 28th in the NFL in offensive DVOA.
• Will Levis has been relatively solid for the Titans in his two games since returning to the lineup, completing 65% of his passes and turning the ball over only one time – while adding 60 yards rushing.
• Calvin Ridley has 38 targets in the four games since DeAndre Hopkins was traded and RB Tyjae Spears is likely to miss this game, leaving Tony Pollard in a full-time role.
• Houston WR Nico Collins returned to the lineup on Monday night and looked fully healthy, making some explosive plays but playing somewhat limited snaps in the blowout.
• Joe Mixon has one of the best RB roles in the league and has produced as well as anyone at the position on a per-game basis in 2024.

HOW TENNESSEE WILL TRY TO WIN ::

The Titans rank 27th in offensive DVOA and have scored 20 or less points in nine of 10 games this season. Levis has been inconsistent as a passer, to put it mildly, and has made several head-scratching decisions that cost the Titans games. Their defense is good enough to keep most game environments relatively close, which limits play volume and keeps Tennessee’s ancillary players from being relevant most weeks. The Titans rank 26th in pass rate over expectation (PROE) for the year despite their 2-8 record and the fact that their last four losses have been by an average of 20 points, with none being one-possession games. 

Levis missed several weeks with a shoulder injury and has been back for two weeks with solid performances against two very good defenses in the Chargers and Vikings. Unfortunately for Levis, it does not get any easier this week as he travels to face the third-ranked defense of the Texans. The Titans’ offense will revolve primarily around Ridley and Pollard, as Spears suffered a concussion last week and is expected to miss this game. Titans WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine had a 98-yard TD last week and is playing an every-down role since Hopkins was traded. He has a touchdown in five of the last six games, which is wildly impressive considering how few touchdowns the Titans have scored this season. Ridley has been far more effective against man coverage than zone this season, and Houston plays a top-8 rate of zone coverage, which theoretically sets Westbrook-Ikhine up very well in this spot. The Texans’ defense has been terrific this season and may be getting stronger with the return of DE Will Anderson Jr. and CB Kamari Lassiter to the field this week after they missed Monday night with ankle and head injuries, respectively. Expect Tennessee to do everything it can to slow the game down and control the ball and tempo, relying on its defense to keep this game close and hoping for the best. The Titans will have to “bring Houston down to their level” if they want any chance of pulling off the huge upset.

How HOUSTON Will Try To Win ::