The Titans and Texans renew hostilities after taking a week off to face other opponents. Houston is headed for a playoff scrap while Tennessee is headed for a top-ten draft selection. The newer Houston team has alternated wins and losses during the past four contests while their older brothers have lost three of the past four. Can Tennessee take revenge on the last Sunday of 2023? Will Houston win out and make the playoff as an unlikely division winner?
Music City Musings – Week 17: Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans
Texans Offense vs. Titans Defense
The Texans will have rookie revelation C.J. Stroud back under center for this one as he missed the past two games due to a concussion. He’s a pretty solid bet for OROY at the end of the season. The Titans are heavily injured along all three levels so it will be a chore stopping these emerging Texans on offense. Can Mike Vrabel and Shane Bowen conjure up more magic from a cast of new faces and depth pieces?
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
There are no major changes from the previous occasion that these two teams met a couple of weeks ago. Right tackle George Fant is in line to return after not being listed on the injury report this week. His replacement, Charlie Heck wasn’t the best, scoring an abysmal 42.7 over the past two games. They will align as follows: left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Juice Scruggs, center Michael Dieter, right guard Shaq Mason, and Fant on the right side. Scruggs continues to have some rookie woes as he’s 69th out of 78 guards with a score of 46.6. If there was an advantage for Tennessee, it’s on the interior of the line.
However, the Titans’ defensive front is a major weakness as they are trying to get by with depth players playing various roles. Jeffery Simmons’ injury has provided a glaring hole for offensive lines to exploit. Tennessee will have to mix and match their EDGE and IDL personnel. Denico Autry has been a force to be reckoned with since the Simmons injury and provides the versatility that’s needed in certain packages. Surprisingly, they have found value in flashes with starters Jaleel Johnson, Keondre Coburn, and Quinton Bohana along with backup Marlon Davidson. It will be a major flashpoint decider between the interior of each team’s lines. Harold Landry continues his good run of form so that’s a plus for Tennessee. Arden Key is another EDGE who has stepped up his play as of late.
Skill-on-Skill Matchups to Watch
It’s a regular occurrence that the Titans’ secondary will be outmanned by opposing offenses. Houston’s skill group is no different. Injuries have decimated Tennessee’s secondary into starting unproven talent and undrafted rookies. Nico Collins is their leading receiver and deep play threat. Tight-end Dalton Schultz killed the Titans’ defense last time out so it will be critical for their new faces at linebacker to help cover him. Devin Singletary was another weapon that led the Texans to a victory in the last game. Noah Brown is another name to watch out for as he’s a top 40 receiver with a 73.9 overall grade. Collins is an outstanding 87.5.
As starting corner Sean Murphy-Bunting is battling injuries, the likely starters are undrafted rookie Eric Garror, Tre Avery, and nickel Roger McCreary. Another undrafted rookie, Anthony Kendall has gotten a lot of runs as well. The situation has gotten so desperate that reinforcements were brought in on the practice squad with Darius Phillips and Kendall Sheffield. Safety has been a three-man rotation between Elijah Molden, K’Von Wallace, and Terrell Edmunds. Azeez Al-Shaair remains the only starter at ILB who originally began the season because of injuries. His running mates are undrafted rookie Otis Reese IV and Garrett Wallow, who’s been in Nashville barely three weeks. AAS’s backup is another new face in JoJo Domann.
Titans Offense vs. Texans Defense
Will Levis makes his return from injury to face CJ Stroud in a highly anticipated matchup between the two rookie passers. Can the offensive line protect him enough to stare down his classmate and lead the Titans’ offense to victory? OC Tim Kelly needs a bounceback game in a reunion between these two organizations with so many ties.
OL vs. DL Matchups to Watch
The beleaguered offensive line gets some consistency with the same five linemen starting much to the chagrin of Titans fans. Left tackle Jaelyn Duncan is a rookie and has played like one, scoring a horrendous 37.8 grade. Peter Skoronski continues to hit the rookie wall and is struggling to finish out the season. Center Aaron Brewer has been just below average but still is ranked as a top-ten center with a score of 71.8. Right guard Daniel Brunskill missed last week but is in line to play this week. In case he is not available, backup Andrew Rupcich likely draws the start over Calvin Throckmorton. A twist has come on as rookie John Ojukwu was signed to the main roster from the practice squad to provide Dillon Radunz competition there. Anything to help the disastrous offensive line.
Facing this ragtag offensive line will be the highly-ranked EDGE duo of Will Anderson, Jr and Derek Barnett. Both players have grades in the high 70s. Sheldon Rankins and Maliek Collins form a solid interior that’s tough for offenses to run against. Collins has missed practice all week and is questionable to play. Unfortunately for Houston, standout EDGE Jonathan Greenard has been ruled out due to injury. WAJ was limited on Friday after missing practices before and he’s questionable to play as well. Greenard’s replacement would be the veteran Jerry Hughes while Collins / Rankins would be replaced by former Titan Teair Tart and Khalil Davis. It will be an interesting chess match for sure.
Skill-on Skill Matchups to Watch
Tennessee should have their full complement of receivers for the first time in a while after Kyle Philips practiced all week. The top three are the top three at this point with NWI on injured reserve. Mason Kinsey has gotten a lot of burn as the primary punt returner and some receiver plays. Seventh-round rookie Colton Dowell has increased his role as well. Tight end Chig Okonkwo has been increasingly productive after a sordidly horrid start to the season. Derrick Henry returns to a place that has traditionally been good for him. Tyjae Spears has been a productive rookie both in the pass and run game.
Houston’s secondary is a little bit different from the last time that these two teams met. Safety Jimmie Ward was placed on injured reserve and cornerback Steven Nelson has missed practice all week and is out. Derek Stingley has continued his great run during an ascendant second season. The Texans have claimed a longtime friend in safety Kareem Jackson, who was cut by the Broncos after being suspended twice for unnecessarily dirty play. Tennessee’s skill players will have to be on a swivel given his reputation. Jalen Pitre had a big impact last time as well. Ward’s replacement has been DeAndre Houston-Carson. Veterans Denzel Perryman and Blake Cashman start alongside Christian Harris at linebacker.
Weather Report
The weather for Houston looks to be a solid day for visitors outdoors as it’s projected to be 72 degrees with a 24% chance of rain. Humidity is predicted to be an astounding 70% with winds up to 16 miles per hour blowing in a Southern direction. The roof at NRG Stadium will likely be open for the contest on Sunday. Houston is a better team than the Titans and has the weather advantage.
Odds and Ends
Tennessee leads the all-time series by a margin of 23-20. During Mike Vrabel’s tenure, the Titans have won five of the nine matchups. In that timespan, Tennessee has outscored Houston with an average margin of victory of 26.3 to 22.5. New Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans has a 2-2 record against the AFC South thus far. Each team has won two consecutive matchups on the road.
Uniforms
The Titans are 1-1 this season, wearing white tops and light blue bottoms. They are 3-6 since the 2018 uniform change in this combination.
Titans
Wardrobe check:
#BritchesReport pic.twitter.com/RhPtGFu0vJ
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) December 27, 2023
Texans
Dripped out
pic.twitter.com/xRQtfL618A
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 27, 2023
Draft Pick Watch
Houston is currently projected to select at 27th overall via Cleveland due to the terms of the Watson trade. They owe Arizona a first-round selection, slotted at 16th as of press time.
Tennessee is in a three-way tie for fifth overall but is seventh in the order due to strength of schedule and a head-to-head victory over the sixth-ranked Chargers.
Main Photo Credit: Syndication: The Tennessean
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