Tag: Tennessee Titans

Titans vs. Texans: 5 things to know for Week 12

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?

 

Titans’ injury report: multiple starters sit out practice

The Tennessee Titans released their first injury report for Week 12 and see multiple starters on the sidelines.

The Tennessee Titans dropped a tough one on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings and suffered some damaging injuries in the process. 

Heading into Week 12, it is already known that linebacker Jack Gibbens will be out and likely placed on injured reserve prior to kickoff. Gibbens suffered a devastating lower leg injury that required surgery on Monday. Since has not been placed on IR yet, he was a non-participant. 

Running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) and linebacker Otis Reese IV (ribs) were also injured during that contest. Spears is in concussion protocol and did not practice, while Reese practiced and was not listed on the injury report. 

Starting cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (quad) did not practice and is likely out for Week 12. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley, tackle Leroy Watson IV, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day, defensive back Justin Hardee, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, Cornerback Roger McCreary, and linebacker Kenneth Murray did not practice

Defensive Back Justin Hardee was limited with a groin injury. 

The Titans’ Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: CB L’Jarius Sneed (quad), Jeffery Simmons (NIR/rest), OT Leroy Watson (back), CB Roger McCreary (knee), DT Sebastian Joseph-Day (biceps), WR Calvin Ridley (illness), LB Jack Gibbens (ankle), DB Justin Hardee (groin), LB Kenneth Murray (shoulder), RB Tyjae Spears (concussion)

Limited Participant: N/A

Full participants: N/A

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All 32 NFL teams (including the Texans) ranked by FPI ratings

Here’s how the Texans rank in FPI rankings among all 32 other NFL teams entering Week 12’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

Eleven games into the season, the Houston Texans (7-4) have a -1.9 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 13th among all 32 teams.

The Tennessee Titans (2-8), who play host to Houston in Week 11 on ‘Monday Night Football’, are ranked 28th with a 5.6 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (9-1): 8.7
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-4): 6.4
  3. Buffalo Bills (9-2): 6.2
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1): 5.1
  5. Green Bay Packers (7-3): 5.0
  6. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2): 4.5
  7. San Francisco 49ers (5-5): 3.9
  8. Minnesota Vikings (8-2): 2.9
  9. Houston Texans (7-4): 1.9
  10. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2): 1.8
  11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6): 1.4
  12. Arizona Cardinals (6-4): 1.4
  13. Washington Commanders (7-4): 1.3
  14. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3): 1.1
  15. Cincinnati Bengals (4-7): 0.3
  16. Los Angeles Rams (5-5): -0.1
  17. New York Jets (3-8): -0.2
  18. Miami Dolphins (4-6): -0.3
  19. Atlanta Falcons (6-5): -0.7
  20. New Orleans Saints (4-7): -0.7
  21. Cleveland Browns (2-8): -1.1
  22. Seattle Seahawks (5-5): -1.1
  23. Denver Broncos (6-5): -1.2
  24. Chicago Bears (4-6): -1.4
  25. Indianapolis Colts (5-6): -2.1
  26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8): -4.9
  27. New England Patriots (3-8): -5.4
  28. Tennesee Titans (2-8): -5.6
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9): -5.9
  30. Carolina Panthers (3-7): -7.5
  31. New York Giants (2-8): -7.7
  32. Dallas Cowboys (3-7): -8.8

The Texans will aim to improve their rating when they take on the Titans in Week 12 in what should factor in the AFC South division race. Houston has moved up four spots since last week.

Titans’ Jeffery Simmons top-rated defensive lineman in Week 11 per PFF

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was the top-rated defensive lineman in Week 11 according to PFF.

The Tennessee Titans are a team in purgatory right now. They are improving and getting incrementally better every week, yet those improvements have not translated to victories on the field. 

One player that is setting the tone for the defense is defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons is in the midst of a string of outstanding performances. This is not just from a production standpoint, it is from an analytical perspective as well.


This week, Simmons was ranked the top-rated defensive tackle in the NFL by PFF with an overall 88.7 grade. His pass rush grade, pressures, and pressure rate were also tops in the league. Overall he had four tackles and a forced fumble, but his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet. 

Just weeks after the Titans rebuffed potential trade opportunities for him, Simmons is showing fans and opponents why he was untouchable at the deadline and why the team considers him a building block for their future. He is also a locker room leader who helps set the tone on a weekly basis.

Moving forward, Simmons and rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat should only get better playing next to each other. Already a solid tandem, they should continue to grow into one of the most dynamic defensive fronts in the NFL and consistently anchor the Titans’ defense.

Simmons will be back in action on Sunday when the Titans head to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans. 

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Titans’ Tony Pollard, Texans’ Joe Mixon top fantasy options in Week 12

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.

Gimme Him: One player Titans would steal from Texans

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?

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If you’re in the orange, you’ll get Titans vs. Texans on TV

NFL Week 12 television maps are out and if you’re in orange, you’ll get the Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans on your local CBS station.

The Tennessee Titans (2-8) are preparing to visit the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas for a Week 12 matchup.

The Titans are coming off a 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, while the Texans are riding high following a 34-10 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys.

Those in the orange region of the TV map will get the game on the local CBS channel.

Getting the call for this game will be Tom McCarthy (play-by-play), Jay Feely (analyst), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Amanda Balionis (sideline).

Information courtesy 506Sports.

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Brian Callahan on Will Levis: ‘There’s been some positive developments’

Titans’ head coach Brian Callahan opens up on the progress made by quarterback Will Levis and the factors contributing to that progress.

The Tennessee Titans’ season has not gone well at all. They fell to 2-8 with their 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, and in Week 12 they face the AFC South division leading Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

It will be yet another tough test for the Titans, but even in these tough contests, the last few weeks have shown a significant improvement in the play of quarterback Will Levis. Head coach Brian Callahan spoke to the media on Monday about his progress.

First, Callahan discusses the process they’ve used to get Levis to this point. The reps he’s taken, the ability to watch and learn, and the final step is integrating that knowledge into his game. He credits Bryce Oliver for being in the right spot when Levis threw the ball his way after Calvin Ridley’s touchdown was called back for a penalty. But Levis also trusted that his receiver would be in the right place at the right time.

When asked if he thought this was more the coaches scheming up the plays or Levis seeing them better, Callahan replied, “It’s probably both,” citing things Will is doing and he is doing to make these throws happen. “I don’t mean to say that we’ve arrived by any stretch,” Callahan said. “But there’s been some positive developments, and I think we have to keep doing that at a more consistent rate.”

Callahan also commented on the officiating.

He kept it professional and to the point, but it’s clear he wasn’t a fan of how the game was called.

The Titans and Texans face off at 1pm EDT this Sunday.

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NFL Power Rankings: How do the Titans fare heading into Week 12?

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.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY:

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.

Barry Werner, List Wire:

The Titans put up a fight. Per usual, it was a losing fight.

NFL Nation, ESPN:

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.

Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network:

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.

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News:

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.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports:

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.

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:

The moments that provide a spark are too short, too few, and too far between.

Diante Lee, The Ringer:

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.

Eric Edholm, NFL.com:

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.

2025 NFL draft: Titans currently slated to pick 2nd overall

At the conclusion of Week 11, the Tennessee Titans are slated to select second overall in the 2025 NFL draft.

The more things change, the more things stay the same for the Tennessee Titans.

Although they put together one of their better games of the season, the Titans once again could not overcome the obstacles that developed during their 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11.

There are many reasons for some fans to be outraged this week, between inconsistent offensive line play and questionable officiating, this game stings. Other fans who are solely focused on April and the 2025 NFL draft are delighted with the outcome and are celebrating.

While there is no way to predict how a season will end, the Titans appear to be on a collision course with the Jacksonville Jaguars to obtain the first pick in the draft. With two head-to-head match-ups on the horizon, these games will have more of an impact on draft standings than they do inside the AFC South.

If the season ended today, the Jaguars and Titans would have the first and second pick in the draft.  With the Houston Texans on the horizon in Week 12, there is a good chance that the Titans will remain rather static with their positioning for the next few weeks.

The Titans will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Houston to take on the Texans at NRG Stadium in Week 12 action.

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