The Houston Texans take on the Tennessee Titans Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT at NRG Stadium.
To help preview the season finale for the Texans (and possibly Tennessee), Titans Wire managing editor Mike Moraitis answered a few questions.
Texans Wire: Of course a win gives the Titans some hats. Can they advance any further with the scenarios?
MM: The highest the Titans can get is the No. 4 seed. There were scenarios where the Titans could have moved up had they finished with a better record than the Steelers or the same record as the Bills, but both of those avenues have been erased.
TW: Can A.J. Brown and Corey Davis get to 1,000 yards in this game?
MM: For sure. Davis needs just 55 more yards, while Brown need 76. Both totals are certainly attainable, especially against the Texans’ lackluster defense. Ryan Tannehill is also 397 yards shy of 4,000, and Derrick Henry can hit 2,000 yards if he runs for 223 on Sunday.
TW: Does Anthony Firkser do anything outside of playing the Texans when he is a superstar?
MM: What Firkser did in Week 6 was definitely an outlier, as he has never posted another game similar to that one. He has slid down the depth chart to No. 4 as the year has progressed and is now at the bottom of the totem pole as far as tight end snaps are concerned.
TW: How does Malcolm Butler not get a Pro Bowl?
MM: Well, we all know the Pro Bowl voting process is extremely flawed to begin with, but it also doesn’t help that the entire defense has been a train wreck around him, which definitely overshadows the great season he’s having.
TW: Would Arthur Smith make a good head coach?
MM: From what players and coaches say, Smith has been a good leader behind the scenes, although that’s difficult to judge from our standpoint since we aren’t in the locker room, at practice or in meetings. As a play-caller, I think he’s a bit overrated. He makes questionable calls week in and week out, and my opinion is that his success has more to do with the talent the Titans’ offense has rather than some magic touch he has. Prior to Ryan Tannehill taking over last season, the Titans’ offense couldn’t buy points.
TW: With Steve Underwood out of the organization, has anyone picked up the dynamic facial hair game?
MM: Unfortunately not, but Underwood’s shoes were always going to be impossible to fill. His facial mane is legendary.
TW: What is your prediction?
MM: This game is going to be close, as the Titans’ defense figures to provide little resistance against Deshaun Watson. However, Tennessee is the hungrier team here and as currently constituted has a better offense overall than Houston. It’ll be a shootout, but the Titans win and clinch the AFC South. Titans 41, Texans 31.