Official Texans vs. Titans Game Thread, 12/29/2019

[Arky]

The 10-5 Houston Texans will be hosting the 8-7 Tennessee Titans this Sunday in a late/afternoon game @ NRG stadium. The Texans are coming off a 23-20 road victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last week, the Titans fell at home to the New Orleans Saints 38-28.

The Titans need this game to help secure a playoff spot. The Texans are already in (the playoffs) so, all the motivation with this one should be with the Titans. I'm expecting the Texans to only give partial effort here, with valuable players only seeing part-time duty. There are things the Texan's defense can work on in this game like getting better organization and cooperation in their secondary with all the new pieces. So, short of the Titans turning the ball over five times, I think the Titans are going to prevail:

Titans 23, Texans 17

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 3:25 pm CST, Sunday, 12/29/2019

Announcers (https://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2019&wk=17) = Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Titans by 3 to 3½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = LA Chargers @ Kansas City, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

FOX (early) = Green Bay @ Detroit, Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

FOX (late) = Washington @ Dallas, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

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Prime time:

SNF = San Francisco @ Seattle (NBC)

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Week 17's are always unique in that both networks (CBS & FOX) show double-headers. All 16 games on Sunday - no prime time except for SNF.

[HPF Bob]

The whole season: L, W, W - it's a pattern that has held the entire season. Week 17 is the designated "lose" week so I think they will go down and it may not be close. Few of the Texans' losses have been close ones.

It's a shame that this game will go out to much of the country (that's why Nantz and Romo are doing it) when the Texans have almost nothing to play for. I hope the Texans treat it like a preseason game. The starters make token appearances then let the backups get in their development time. Anyone who needs to nurse an injury gets held out.

The focus needs to be next week, not this one, and that means being as healthy as possible for the Wild Card game.

Interestingly, I think the Titans are a better team right now than the Steelers and will likely give KC a harder time.

For the Raiders to make the playoffs, they will need to win their game, have Indy win their game and then have the Titans and Steelers lose. They needed four games to go their way last week and if that happens a second week in a row, Las Vegas may be the perfect home for them.

[barrett]

The whole season: L, W, W - it's a pattern that has held the entire season. Week 17 is the designated "lose" week so I think they will go down and it may not be close. Few of the Texans' losses have been close ones.

It's a shame that this game will go out to much of the country (that's why Nantz and Romo are doing it) when the Texans have almost nothing to play for. I hope the Texans treat it like a preseason game. The starters make token appearances then let the backups get in their development time. Anyone who needs to nurse an injury gets held out.

The focus needs to be next week, not this one, and that means being as healthy as possible for the Wild Card game.

Interestingly, I think the Titans are a better team right now than the Steelers and will likely give KC a harder time.

For the Raiders to make the playoffs, they will need to win their game, have Indy win their game and then have the Titans and Steelers lose. They needed four games to go their way last week and if that happens a second week in a row, Las Vegas may be the perfect home for them.

I agree with all of this except one thing.

I don't care if the rest of the country sees us lay an egg. Who cares what they think?

[HPF Bob]

I imagine those who saw us beat the Patriots and the Chiefs will still respect us.

[Arky]

The word I'm hearing is that since the Chiefs play at noon, the Texans will know where they stand by kickoff - that the Chief's result, will play into how they approach the game.....

[HPF Bob]

Early Report has Fuller out and Watson/Hopkins questionable. It would be foolish not to sit them for this week unless the Chiefs lose.

Pittsburgh-Baltimore is another late game and expect Steeler Nation to whine about us laying down should we sit our stars but f-them. I'm still irked by 1978-79 so I would not do them any favors, even if that means letting the ex-Oilers into the playoffs. Funny thing is, the Titans seem to have a thing for knocking off the Chiefs and, if all holds to form, the Titans go to Arrowhead to give KC another coronary.

[HPF Bob]

Funny thing is, the Titans seem to have a thing for knocking off the Chiefs and, if all holds to form, the Titans go to Arrowhead to give KC another coronary.

Funny thing those cookies: YouTube just pops up with two recent Titans-Chiefs games with memorable finishes and this is evidence the KC fans don't want to see the Titans coming up in their rear view mirrors:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxyDgp72mHc (2018 wild card)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJEXxZmJq5k (2019)

[HPF Bob]

Dang. Practically every favorite other than the Saints is losing. Seems highly suspicious. Now the Chiefs have taken a lead but the Patriots, Bills and Packers are currently behind.Even the Bengals are winning.

BTW, CBS reporting that Watson will sit. Wonder if that changes if the Chiefs actually lose?

[HPF Bob]

Cheifs beginning to pull away, 24-14. Patriots tied with Dolphins, 17-17. Vikings, Packers appears to be losing. Bills still shutout in the rain with Josh Allen sitting.

[HPF Bob]

Dolphins, Lions putting the tease on Chiefs and Saints fans, respectively. They're holding 4th quarter leads against the Patriots and Packers., but both are within 4 points. Chief fans chanting "Let's go Dol-phins! Lets go, Dolphins!" at Arrowhead.

[HPF Bob]

Dolphins lost by 40+ points to NE in Week 2 but they pull off the upset in Fuxboro, 27-24! Chiefs get the bye week. Pats' now in Wild Card #3 seed.

Fans at Arrowhead going crazy.

Packers-Lions now tied.

Also, Watson and Hopkins are active but Tunsil, Fuller and Stils are inactive.

[HPF Bob]

Jameis Winston's season ends with an OT pick six, becomes the first QB in NFL history with 30 TD passes and 30 INTs in the same season. LOLOLOL

[Arky]

Titans now favored by 10. Eheh.

[HPF Bob]

Buffalo-Houston now guaranteed next week.

McCarron starting at QB.

[Arky]

Gametime!

Titans win the toss and defer. Texans to receive the kick.

McCarron in at QB and looking good, so far.

Texans drive down the field and go for it on 4th and 1 at the Titan 2.

Buddy Howell gets the 1st down at the 1.

Duke Johnson breaks the plane for the TD.

Texans 7, Titans 0

7:25 left in the 1st qtr.

[HPF Bob]

Nice statement drive there.

Steelers/Raiders with a little hope. Ravens starting RG3 in place of MVP8 at QB. Tucker FG makes it 3-0, Ravens.

[Arky]

Titans waste no time answering. Tannehill hits AJ Brown for a 51-yard TD on 3rd and 5.

Texans 7, Titans 7

5:33 left in the 1st qtr.

[chuck]

I've seen better defensive effort at the Pro Bowl.

[Arky]

1st qtr ends with the Titans at their 38 and driving. Titans 3/3 on 3rd downs so far.

Texans 7, Titans 7

[Arky]

Tannehill hits Davis for the 6 yard TD. Play is under review, looks like he stepped out before breaking the plane.....

Call is overturned, ball marked at the 1 yard line.

Tannehill hits Pruitt for the 1 yard TD pass.

Titans 14, Texans 7

9:42 left in the half.

[Arky]

Helmet to helmet hit on McCarron not called......

At halftime, score remains the same:

Titans 14, Texans 7

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McCarron sacked 3 times. Tannehill zero.

Titans 5/7 on 3rd downs. Texans 2/6.

Titans 229 total yards the Texan's 150.

[HPF Bob]

At this point, Titans could lose and still make the 6th seed: Steelers losing, Raiders losing.

Anybody want to play Belichick after losing to the Dolphins? LOL.

[Arky]

Titans take the 2nd half kickoff and rush their way to TD. Henry gets the last 3 yards.

Titans 21, Texans 7

10:06 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Texans put a drive together with Taiwan Jones doing some fine running. McCarron gets flushed out of the pocket and keeps for the last 2 yards.

Titans 21, Texans 14

1:09 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

3rd qtr ends with the Titans facing 2nd and 2 at their own 45 and driving.

Score remains:

Titans 21, Texans 14

[Arky]

Long pass to AJ Brown sets up a 1 yard Henry TD run.

Titans 28, Texans 14

14:02 left in the game.

[Arky]

Henry gets loose and scores from 53 for a Titan TD.

Titans 35, Texans 14

2:54 left in the game.

[HPF Bob]

Henry's a beast. It will be fun to watch them beat up the Pats whether they win or lose. Vrabel, or course, played for New England for many years.

[Arky]

And that's the way it ends.

Final score:

Titans 35, Texans 14

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I believe the playoff scheduling will come out later tonight.....