Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel spent four seasons with the Houston Texans when Bill O’Brien was hired as coach in 2014. The former defensive coordinator has tremendous knowledge of the inner workings of the AFC South team.
What is the best way to neutralize Vrabel’s knowledge of the Texans’ offense? Ask his defense to stop it.
In the Texans’ 24-21 win over the Titans Sunday afternoon at Nissan Stadium, Houston’s offense was able to execute just enough to edge Tennessee and take undisputed first place in the division with two games to go.
“They had a great game plan with me keeping the ball on some zone reads and things like that, and different schemes that we try to put in, and what we want to do with certain players,” quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters. “But, at the end of the day, they can know all they want to know but we go out there and execute, and the best players got to make plays.”
Watson completed 19-of-27 for 243 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, both of them in the red zone. Despite the Titans knowing a little bit of what Watson does well, or doesn’t excel at, the Texans offense was able to execute the critical plays to get the victory.
“They had some great plays they made, and we had some too,” said Watson. “So, at the end of the day, you still have to make those plays and win your matchup.”
The Texans will have another matchup with the Titans in Week 17 at NRG Stadium. However, if the Texans are able to get a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 16 on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, they will win the division and render the rematch meaningless as far as their own fate is concerned. Nonetheless, if it is a consequential encounter, much like Week 15, it could come down to execution.