See who experts around the league are taking in a Week 12 matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans.
The Tennessee Titans (2-8) will visit the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Sunday afternoon.
Opening the week, the Titans were listed as 7.5-point road underdogs and that spread has worsened slightly with Houston now at -8 as of this writing.
Let’s take a look at who some of the experts and insiders around the league are taking in the Week 12 matchup:
Expert
Pick
Score (if applicable)
Dan Graziano (ESPN)
Titans
N/A
Matt Bowen (ESPN)
Texans
N/A
Seth Wickersham (ESPN)
Texans
N/A
Pete Prisco (CBS)
Texans
31-21
John Breech (CBS)
Texans
20-17
Jordan Dajani (CBS)
Texans
26-17
Nate Davis (USA TODAY)
Texans
30-17
Lorenzo Reyes (USA TODAY)
Texans
25-13
Bill Bender (Sporting News)
Texans
26-20
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)
Texans
24-16
Although extremely one-sided, the Titans avoided being a unanimous loss prediction this week. And as you’ll read in a moment, there are more out there smelling a possible upset than just Dan Graziano.
Other experts and analysts from around the league are equally bullish on the Texans, but four percent are predicting a Titans stunner, per NFL Pickwatch.
Fans are even tougher with 99 picking a Texans win.
The Tennessee Titans face the Houston Texans on Sunday, and there are three causes for concern in Week 12.
This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans will play the Houston Texans at 1 p.m. EDT at NRG Stadium in Texas.
The 7-4 Texans sit atop the AFC South and will likely remain there through the season. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but given how poorly the rest of the division is playing (including the Titans), there’s no reason to think the Texans will miss the playoffs.
The Titans, though, are 2-8 after their recent 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They are in a rebuild, and while it’s been slightly painful to get where we are, they are finally showing signs of improvement. They have a division-heavy schedule to end their season, and those games will give us a good indication of just how well this team is doing.
While a win may not be expected this Sunday, it’s still the goal. To that end, there are three causes for concern for the Titans heading into Week 12.
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nico Collins is back
Texans’ wide receiver Nico Collins spent several weeks on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He returned last week to help the Texans defeat the Dallas Cowboys. Not only is Collins the Texans’ top wide receiver, but he’s also C.J. Stroud’s favorite target. Prior to being sidelined, he was leading the league in receiving yards.
With Collins back on the field, the Titans’ secondary will have its work cut out for them. The Texans have relied heavily on their run game with Collins out, but that will change as he reintegrates himself with his team. Last week, Collins roped in just four catches for 54 yards, but it’s largely because the Texans kept the ball on the ground against a shaky Cowboys defense.
The Titans’ defense is better than the Cowboys, so the Texans might not put up 34 points, but you should expect Collins to be more involved this week, and he will make an impact against a tired and worn down secondary.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Half of all injured players are on injured reserve
The Titans season hasn’t just been dictated by the rebuild under a new coaching regime, it’s also been dictated by the number of injuries this team has sustained this season. The defense in particular has struggled to keep players healthy, but the offense is starting to catch up.
As of this writing, there are eight offensive players and 12 defensive players who have an injury designation. Four offensive players and six defensive players are on injured reserve. These injuries aren’t just affecting the players’ ability to compete on the field, but they are taking bodies away from the team, making it difficult for available players to keep up without getting fatigued.
This season has been a struggle for a number of reasons, but injuries certainly aren’t helping anything. When 10 players of your 53-man roster are sidelined, it’s not easy to cover those losses with elevations from the practice squad.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Stroud continues to improve
It’s hard to believe that C.J. Stroud and Will Levis are in the same draft class, but they are. Last season, Stroud took a bottom-feeding Texans team and changed the outlook on the entire organization in the wake of the Deshaun Watson scandal. They only won four games and didn’t make the playoffs, but the change in the team was readily apparent.
Stroud is in just his second year, but as a rookie he showed that he has the makings of an elite quarterback. The last elite quarterbacks the Titans faced were Josh Allen and Jared Goff, and we all know how that went. Stroud may be young, but he is very capable and if the Titans secondary isn’t on-point, he has the ability to expose whatever weakness they show.
Here are five things to know about the AFC South matchup between the Titans and first-place Texans.
The Tennessee Titans will face off against the Houston Texans in Week 12. Entering the contest, the Titans have a 2-8 record while the Texans are 7-4.
The Titans haven’t won at Houston since October 2022. While the playoffs are out of the picture for the Titans, the team could at least play spoiler and give the Texans another loss.
Per BetMGM, the Titans are once again big underdogs. The Texans are favored by 8 points at home, and the over/under is set at 40.5.
Ahead of this divisional battle, let’s identify 5 things to know.
Titans hold a slight lead in the all-time series
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs after the catch against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Week 12, the Titans hold a 23-21 series lead over the Texans. This means the Texans could tie the all-time series with a sweep of the Titans in 2024.
It will be a tough task for the Titans to avoid that reality. The Texans are heavy favorites in this game, and the Titans have not beaten their rivals since October 2022.
The last time these rivals played, the Texans won 26-3.
Will Levis is playing his best football of late
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) barks out a play during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
For the first half of the 2024 season, it seemed obvious that the Titans would have a new quarterback in 2025. I’m not saying that isn’t the case now, but Levis has at least been playing himself back into consideration.
Against the Chargers in Week 10, Levis didn’t commit any turnovers and threw for 175 yards with 2 touchdowns. In Week 11, Levis threw for 295 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The difference is that Levis’s Week 11 INT was at the end of the game and wasn’t a back-breaking momentum killer.
A tale of two scoring offenses
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) runs with the ball as Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58). Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
CJ Stroud and the Texans are No. 14 in the NFL in points per game. The Titans, meanwhile, are No. 28 in the same category.
The Texans score 23.5 points per game, while the Titans manage just 17.0. This just feels like another game where if the Titans’ opponent scores 20, the game is over.
Passing-wise, it’s more of the same. The Texans average 221.5 passing yards per game, while the Titans average just 178.4. Can Will Levis go toe-to-toe with Stroud?
Familiar faces for both teams
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Texans added two key Titan defenders this offseason in Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair only spent one season in Nashville but endeared himself to the fans in that short time, while Autry was a fan favorite.
Now, both will be suiting up for the Titans’ arch-nemesis. The Texans also roster former Titans Mario Edwards Jr. and Robert Woods. The Titans, meanwhile, have former Texan Ali Gaye on the roster.
Brian Callahan’s 2nd divisional test
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans looks on in the second quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Titans have already played 10 games, but only one of those has been a division game. The Titans lost to the Colts, but it was easily a game that could’ve been won.
Now, Brian Callahan gets another chance to play against a division opponent. Will the coach be able to notch his first AFC South win and third win overall? Or will the Titans continue plummeting down the AFC standings?
The Titans and Texans face off in Houston on Sunday and both teams boast players who are worthy of starting on your fantasy rosters in Week 12.
The Tennessee Titans head to the Lone Star state on Sunday to face division rival Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Texans sit atop the AFC South division with ease and will likely have no issue making the playoffs. The Titans are third in the AFC South but have a division-heavy schedule to end the season which could change things a bit.
The Titans, while it’s been slow, are making progress and beginning to look better each week. There have been a lot of challenges and obstacles to overcome, but even in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Titans looked better than they have all season.
This week, the Titans’ stout defense faces a dynamic Houston offense that is capable of making big plays. But the Houston defense isn’t as tough as some the Titans’ have faced recently, which provides an opportunity for Will Levis & Co. to move the ball down the field.
Let’s take a quick peek at the fantasy options these two teams provide in Week 12.
Despite missing time with an ankle injury, Joe Mixon has been lighting up the fantasy scoreboard. Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, he rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns, plus added two receptions for 44 more yards. He has exceeded 100 rushing yards in six of eight games with the Texans and has a total of 11 touchdowns this season. He is the eighth ranked running back in the league, despite missing time.
Against the Titans in Week 12, he is poised for another strong game. The Titans’ have allowed 13 scrimmage touchdowns to running backs, tied for fourth-most in the NFL. He’s not only going to get his ground yards this week, but he will find the end zone.
Tony Pollard is the Titans’ number one back. That’s not a secret and it’s not going to change anytime soon. Tyjae Spears has been a nice compliment to Pollard on the field, gaining solid yards when needed. But after the Titans’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday, Spears entered the NFL’s five-step concussion protocol. He remains questionable against the Texans, and in games when he hasn’t played, Pollard averages 24 touches per game. It’s still a tough matchup behind a flimsy offensive line, but Pollard will get his touches this week and could find the end zone at some point.
Prior to landing on injured reserve for five weeks with a hamstring injury, Nico Collins was taking the league by storm and sitting at the top of the receiver rankings. Since then, the rankings have changed without him on the field, but his return against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday definitely gave the team a boost. He was a bit rusty, which is expected, and the Titans’ secondary might prove to be a difficult matchup, but by the end of the game when the Titans’ defenders are fatigued, look for him to make his mark.
After DeAndre Hopkins was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, Calvin Ridley became the undisputed WR1. Over the last four games, he has 358 receiving yards and two touchdowns and would have had a third had it not been called back for a penalty last week. The Texans’ secondary allows the most touchdowns to wide receivers and gives up over 150 receiving yards per game to wideouts.
Will Levis looks much improved since his return as well, racking up 295 passing yards in Week 11, which bodes well for Ridley going forward. If Levis and Ridley can consistently be on the same page, it could prove to be a solid combination.
Let’s be real; the Titans’ offense is inconsistent at best. Yes, Will Levis played well last week, but on the road against a division rival? It’s going to be a tough test. The Texans’ defense is projected to have the second-most fantasy points in Week 12 behind the Denver Broncos, who are playing Las Vegas. Will Levis is likely to turn the ball over; he has only one game this season where he hasn’t thrown an interception. Plus, the Titans are still trying to find their footing during this rebuild, especially at the right tackle position. If the Texans attack from that side, they’ll have no trouble disrupting the Titans’ offense and having a nice fantasy outing this week.
The Tennessee Titans have a giant hole on offense making this an easy target to grab off the Houston Texans’ roster.
Coming off another loss, the Tennessee Titans (2-8) will travel to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans in AFC South action.
That, of course, provides those of us here at Titans Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Texans’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades. The Titans have talent at multiple positions, but could still use an influx of talent on all levels, and the Texans offer a variety of players that could improve the roster.
Heading into this Week 12 battle, right tackle is the most glaring need on the roster. Sure, some will say quarterback or dynamic edge rusher, and others possibly tight end or receiver, but the hole at right tackle is a huge problem that has a ripple effect for the entire offense. The Texans have options at almost all of those positions, thus making this exercise the most interesting of the season.
With Will Levis still truly an unknown quantity at this point, quarterback C.J. Stroud would be a solid pick-up. However, his sophomore campaign has not been quite as dynamic as his rookie season and there are some questions. Especially considering most of his struggles are tied to injuries to the players around him. While bringing him onto the Titans would make sense, it is likely his struggles would continue, so this week it’s a pass.
Wide receiver Nico Collins, defensive ends Will Anderson Jr and Daneille Hunter, and tight end Dalton Schultz are also potential targets, but one player on their roster could make a larger impact: offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Tunsil is arguably the best offensive tackle in the league and would instantly upgrade the entire offensive line. Plus, being in the middle of a three-year, $75 million contract, the former first-round selection of the Miami Dolphins would be in Nashville through the 2025 season. His addition would allow the Titans to slide 2024 first-round selection JC Latham to his more natural right tackle position and give the team bookends to an already solid interior.
What are your thoughts, Titans fans? Would you pick Laremy Tunsil or steal an entirely different player from the Houston Texans?
Here’s where the Titans land in a multitude of NFL power rankings.
The Tennessee Titans fell to 2-8 with a 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11. Even with the loss, the Titans looked functionally better. Unforced errors and a lot of penalties (a few were controversial) hampered their efforts to win, but collectively, they looked halfway decent for the first time under Will Levis this season.
The Titans face a tough task again in Week 12 when they head to Texas to face the Houston Texans. It’s just their second divisional game this season, with the first being a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 6. Save for games against the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals, the Titans’ remaining schedule is against division opponents.
As we enter Week 12, here’s a look at where the Titans place in a multitude of power rankings.
They don’t score much – their 18 TDs the AFC’s second fewest – but they get their money’s worth. WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s 98-yarder Sunday was the longest touchdown reception in the league this season.
Preseason hot seat: RG Dillon Radunz Current temperature of hot seat: Cold
Radunz has settled in nicely now that he knows he can focus on one position — in 2023, he made starts at right tackle, left guard, left tackle and right guard. He has started nine out of 10 games and has been a big factor in the rushing attack. Running back Tony Pollard benefited directly from Radunz’s blocks on two of his longest runs this season. His pass protection could stand to improve, especially after Radunz gave up a sack in each of the past two weeks. But he has played his way into what should be a multiyear contract.
It’s hard to be too positive about the Tennessee Titans, who have now lost five of their last six games. Tennessee’s defense continues to fall away compared to the strong start, and unfortunately, the offense is barely registering a pulse. Will Levis looked better this week, and that is kind of all you can ask for at this stage.
The Titans will benefit more from losing and gaining draft position than from winning and keeping any faint playoff hopes alive. Levis’ development and evaluating the roster are the key elements of the last seven games.
The Titans have been overwhelmed in Will Levis’ second season, as their pass-reliant ways also put a decent defense in more harm’s way than expected. Brian Callahan is also learning how to coach from week to week.
Will Levis’ last two games: 470 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, 103.2 passer rating. It’s far from perfect, but it’s giving him some momentum. A strong finish could be very important for him and the Titans.
If you’re ever fortunate enough to watch the Titans play against your favorite team, relish the opportunity to witness the wide range of outcomes possible in a game with Levis at quarterback. If the first read isn’t there for him, all bets are off. On throws of 2.5 seconds or longer, Levis ranks 29th in passer rating out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks and has been sacked the eighth-most times despite starting just seven games. Levis isn’t a good quarterback when he gets the ball out quickly, but operating on time makes the offense much more viable. The main issue is that the scheme has no guardrails in place to keep Levis from making terrible decisions. After he took five sacks and committed a turnover on Sunday, I have to wonder when the coaching staff will bench him to cover their own behinds.
Will Levis’ bomb to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine that went for a 98-yard score gave the Titans life, and the offense put a few plays together in the second half. But in the fourth quarter Sunday, they settled for a field goal and turned it over twice on downs before Levis’ game-sealing pick. The Titans were also doomed by their earlier mistakes, including several drive-extending penalties that helped the Vikings offense significantly. This game came down to execution, and Minnesota was clearly superior in that department. One of the biggest differences between Brian Callahan’s Titans and the Bengals team he came from is that Cincinnati under Zac Taylor has been one of the more disciplined clubs, flags-wise, since becoming a head coach. But Tennessee now has 82 accepted penalties through 10 games under Callahan, with 67 of those setbacks coming in the past seven games. The Titans are also minus-11 in turnover differential, the second-worst mark in the league, so it’s no shock they’ve only won once since September.
Former Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley has finally made it back to a 53-man roster after signing with the Carolina Panthers.
There has been a lot of dismal news lately surrounding the Tennessee Titans and former members of the franchise over the past few weeks. Between injuries and players being released, it is always a tough reminder that the NFL is a business.
Every once in a while a feel good story pops up that should receive more attention and this is one.
Panthers are signing Tennessee’s former first-round pick Caleb Farley to their active roster, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. Farley has battled through injuries and more to make it back. pic.twitter.com/uLMY9Nig2D
Former Titans first-round pick Caleb Farley is back in the NFL. The veteran cornerback, who has undergone a plethora of setbacks in his career, was signed to the Carolina Panthers’ active roster.
A fan favorite, Farley was never able to duplicate his production at Virginia Tech in the NFL with the Titans and was released at the end of training camp after the team upgraded its cornerbacks by acquiring L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie during the offseason.
Farley joined the Panthers’ practice squad after his release and returned to the field for the first time since 2022. After reaching his 2024 elevation limit, the Panthers saw enough to add him to the 53-man roster.
Having overcome his vast injury history and off-field tragedies to make it back to an active NFL roster is a great story and one that Titans fans should appreciate, even if it is taking place with the Panthers.
Minnesota benefited from a 13-3 penalty differential to satisfy their substantial away crowd. With the loss, Tennessee starts its third losing streak of the season.
Well…it is what it is…when your franchise is in the #Titans situation, you don’t get the calls.
-Lose by 10
-Penalties 12-2
-2 BS 4th down penalties to give #Vikings a Touchdown
-Ridley TD plus NWI big gain taken away on illegal formations (didn’t look illegal to me)
Well…it is what it is…when your franchise is in the #Titans situation, you don’t get the calls.
-Lose by 10
-Penalties 12-2
-2 BS 4th down penalties to give #Vikings a Touchdown
-Ridley TD plus NWI big gain taken away on illegal formations (didn’t look illegal to me)
Will Levis, the second-year quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, achieved a remarkable feat by throwing a 98-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine against the Minnesota Vikings. This play marked the longest touchdown from scrimmage of…
The #Titans were on the wrong side of some bad calls and didn’t respond well enough to adversity, losing 23-13 to the #Vikings. They are 2-8.
Brian Callahan went crazy on officials after the worst of the calls, an unnecessary roughness on Mike Brown for a fourth-down hit on… pic.twitter.com/mx0avrCPYn
The Tennessee Titans fell to the Minnesota Vikings, 23-13, in Week 11 and WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is our Player of the Game.
The Tennessee Titans hosted the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday in Week 11 action.
Before the game ever started, the Titans were fighting an uphill battle. The Vikings have a decent offense and a stout defense with a 7-2 record, while the Titans have struggled to acclimate to Brian Callahan’s scheme.
Still, the Titans fought hard, had two takeaways, and looked like they might be turning into an actual team. But the unforced errors, the penalties, and the turnovers are what truly hurt them today.
Still, there was one player who stood out this week with exceptional play. This week’s Player of the Game is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Westbrook-Ikhine may not have caught all of the passes that went his way today, but he did record two catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown reception came on a play where the line of scrimmage was Tennessee’s two-yard line.
Will Levis dropped back into the end zone looking for a deep ball and found Westbrook-Ikhine down the field. Mr. Reliable caught the pass and did the rest.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine with a 98-yard touchdown!!!!
Westbrook-Ikhine has become a favorite target for Levis, right behind Calvin Ridley. They were both targeted six times today with Ridley catching four passes for 58 yards.
The Titans next face the Houston Texans on the road.
