Houston Texans (7-4) – Tennessee Titans (2-8): 27-32
The Titans had come a long way thanks to Will Levis' spectacular touchdown (18/24, 278 yards, 2 TD, 1 int) for Chig Okonkwo which put them 3 points ahead of Houston 10 minutes from the end. The Texans had the equalizing ball with a 28-yard field goal for Kai'mi Fairbairn… missed! The visitors even forced a safety with a minute to go. Will Levis and Tennessee win a very complicated match.
It’s gone in all directions this evening… and not only the good ones! We saw a fairly complete range of what a match can offer. For the Texans, the loss is a problem. But the level displayed by CJ Stroud (20/33, 247 yards, 2 TD, 2 int) is a disaster. Not very precise, not very inspired on his runs, not in rhythm, the quarterback threw 2 interceptions. And he wasn't helped by the ground game, just 22 yards to Joe Mixon.
On the Titans side, nothing new under the sun: Will Levis is an entertaining player. A future champion? Maybe not. But we don't ask him that much anymore. Going from sharp runs to horrible interceptions to laser passes, his range is exhaustive. Unlike the opponents of the day, the ground game is a real help for the Titans with 119 yards and a touchdown for Tony Pollard.
The locals had started in the best way: an 80-yard kick return, a pass, a touchdown for Cade Stover. Easy, right? Not so much. The Texans conceded 17 points before managing to score again. Will Levis was pretty good in the first half. Only problem: he suffered 7 sacks in the first act alone. And lost a fumble allowing the Texans to tie the game at 17. The Titans score a field goal to lead 20-17 before the break.
To you, to me, to you, to me
The second period was an anthology of spectacular actions, failed actions and change of leader. CJ Stroud’s (nasty!) interception? Interception returned for touchdown for the Texans! Fumble on a Titans special teams punt? 70 yard touchdown to Will Levis.
Costly errors could have changed the course of the match, notably this illegal movement before the Texans' snap which canceled a Collins touchdown 4 minutes from time. Houston then turns to its scorer Kai'mi Fairbairn, excellent so far, for a 28-yard field goal which should put the two teams at 30 all. Except, disaster! Fairbairn misses his kick, for no external reason! No counterattack, no pressure, all alone like a big guy.
OH THE HUGE FAIL OF THE TEXANS 😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/BMl7wsA2As
— DNA of Sports.com – NFL News (@DNA of Sports) November 24, 2024
It was the final mistake that cost Houston the match. The Texans didn't deserve to win anyway. They will even suffer a safety at the very end of the match. Will Levis was good despite enormous pressure and suffered 8 sacks! And Tennessee's air defense continues to do a good job. We can also talk about the 11 penalties committed by the Texans. But no matter how much we look around the problem, we always end up coming back to CJ Stroud. And if DeMeco Ryans doesn't change something quickly, the end of the season could almost come sooner than expected for Houston.
