As fans flooded to the exits of NRG Stadium, C.J. Stroud tried to save the day.
Instead, he channeled his inner Dan Orvlosky and ran out of the back of the end zone before Harold Landry could officially bring him down for a safety.
Ball game for the Bulls on Parade.
Stroud wasn’t the only issue in the Houston Texans’ 32-27 loss against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12, but his two interceptions deep in his own territory didn’t help.
The defense allowed Will Levis to connect on three 60-plus passes, including the game-winning 70-yard score to tight end Chig Okonkwo.
Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 28-yard chip shot that would have tied that at 30 apiece and forced overtime.
The run game was dormant and the second-half offensive woes were evident. Since Week 6, Houston’s defense has outscored its offense 14-7.
The good news? Houston remains the favorite to win the AFC South. The bad news? A performance like Sunday would likely lead to a quick three-hour blowout against a competitive wild card squad.
Here’s the snap count from Sunday’s outing.
#Texans snap counts and stats from 32-17 loss to a three-win #Titans team @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/OJxYcCSK5r
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) November 25, 2024
Offensive snaps: 67
Defensive snaps: 56
Special teams snaps: 21
Tank Dell led all targets in snaps with 47 while Nico Collins played in 44, 12 higher than a week ago against the Dallas Cowboys. The 6-foot-4 Pro Bowl target finished with a team-leading five catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Joe Mixon was limited to 14 carries, but he played 77% of snaps among running backs. Dameon Pierce and Dare Ogunbowale combined for 13 snaps as the No. 2 option.
Defensively, Calen Bullock totaled his fifth straight game with 100% of reps. Jimmie Ward, who picked off Levis for a 67-yard touchdown in the third, split reps at nickel and safety after Jalen Pitre left in the second quarter, finishing 37 plays.
Will Anderson Jr, who missed two games due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 9, played in 32 snaps and recorded two sacks.
The Texans hit the road next week to face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC South showdown. They are among the final teams with at bye in Week 14.
Kickoff from EverBank Stadium is scheduled for noon CT.