The Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans in their final game of the 2024 season this Sunday at Nissan stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game kicks off at 12:00 p.m. CDT, and it’s unlikely to look like the same game as their Week 12 meeting.
The Texans clinched the AFC South and a playoff berth, so their postseason endeavors are already set. Houston has not said they will be resting players this week, necessarily, but reps may be limited given that they do not have to win this game.
The Titans have lost their last five in a row and eight of their last 10. It hasn’t mattered which quarterback plays, but this week we’ll get to see them both play apparently. It’s been a long season of disappointment for the Titans.
Heading into Week 18, there are three causes for concern.
Quarterback controversy
Okay, it’s not so much a controversy as there isn’t a set quarterback. First, it was Will Levis, then he got hurt and Mason Rudolph filled in. Then Levis came back but was benched after throwing three interceptions in a game and Rudolph took over. But Rudolph couldn’t get the job done either and now Brian Callahan says both quarterbacks will play on Sunday.
Switching between quarterbacks isn’t an easy task and definitely contributed to the Titans’ inability to find any rhythm this season. But playing them both in the same game isn’t really the answer either.
The ground game
This goes for both sides of the ball. On offense, the Titans look to have Tony Pollard back this weekend, which is good news since Tyjae Spears is still in concussion protocol. In the absence of Spears and if Pollard goes down or can’t play, the Titans are left with Julius Chestnut, who hasn’t seen much field time this year save on special teams. In their last meeting, Pollard rushed for 119 yards, but that doesn’t mean that Chestnut would have the same success if called upon.
On the other side of the ball, the Titans’ defense held the Texans to 40 yards on the ground in their last meeting. But the Titans’ interior has fallen apart over the last few weeks. If Joe Mixon has limited reps, Dameon Pierce will take every opportunity he can to run the ball down the Titans’ throats.
Momentum
The Texans have already secured their playoff spot, but after losing their last two games, they really need to build some momentum in the final week of the regular season. What better way to do that than to defeat a division rival on their home field after they did it to you earlier in the year?
Houston needs to end the season with a win, which is why they may not limit the reps of their starters until they have a solid lead. They aren’t playing for pride; the Texans need a mood shift to prepare them for Wild Card Weekend. And the Titans make for a perfect punching bag.
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