TEXANS (9-6) VS. TITANS (8-7)
SUNDAY, 1 P.M. ET, NISSAN STADIUM, NASHVILLE uTV: CBS, DIRECTV 710
Announcers: Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta
About the Texans: It might have been ugly, but the Texans found a way to wrap up the AFC South with a 12-10 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16. Former Texan Randy Bullock missed a 43-yard field goal try as time expired that would have given the Bengals a victory. The Texans are AFC South champions for a second consecutive season and will host their playoff opener, regardless of what happens in Nashville. New starting QB
sputtered early and often, but he found a way to give the Texans enough offense to win. “It was just taking a deep breath and realizing what we have on defense, what they’re doing for us,” Savage said. “All week, it’s just protect the ball and find a way to win, and that’s what we did.”
About the Titans: Their dream season turned nightmarish. It doesn’t get much more devastating than what the Titans suffered in Week 16. They needed a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars last weekend to turn this week’s game into a battle for the AFC South championship. But instead of getting a chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, everything fell apart for the Titans in a 38-17 loss. They lost the game, their quarterback and later the AFC South when the Texans won. QB suffered a broken fibula in his right leg, and the Titans will have to finish their season without him. The only thing at stake this week: A win would give Tennessee its first winning season since a 9-7 mark in 2011.
Fuller had seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown when Tennessee visited Houston in Week 4. After a blazing opening quarter of the season in which he had 19 catches for 323 receiving yards with two touchdowns, he has 25 receptions for 288 yards and no touchdowns in the nine games since. Finding chemistry with Savage against McCain, a former Texans defensive back, would be huge for Houston’s offense entering the playoffs.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
One of Orakpo’s 101⁄ sacks this season came when the Titans visited his hometown in Week 4. One more sack would help him top his career high of 11 sacks from his 2009 rookie season with the Washington Redskins. Wreaking havoc on Savage and the Texans offensive line might be nice retribution for the Titans after they were eliminated from playoff contention.
A Texans loss would drop them to 2-6 on the road this season. (They’re 7-1 at home.) The last team to finish 2-6 on the road and advance to the playoffs was the 2010 Seattle Seahawks.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Chemistry test: After QB Brock Osweiler was benched with 16 interceptions and a 59.6% completion rate, Savage struggled to hit targets against the Bengals. He will need to get chemistry going — especially with WR — before the playoffs. After Texans RB missed his first game of the season with an ankle injury, rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. If Miller rests again this game, Blue might be asked to carry a heavy load for the Texans’ vital running game.
3. Turnover tally: In their win against the Bengals, the Texans played without committing a turnover for the second time this season. The Titans have 10 takeaways during a six-game streak in which they have forced at least one. They have 17 this season.
Jordan Godwin