Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans: A Week 11 Showdown for AFC South Pride
Alright, let’s set the scene. We’re in Nashville, the capital of country music and, for one afternoon, the epicenter of a classic AFC South turf war. It’s Week 11, and the Houston Texans (4-5) are rolling into Nissan Stadium to take on the Tennessee Titans (1-8). On paper, this looks like a mismatch. But this is the NFL, where “on paper” means about as much as a screen door on a submarine.
For the Texans, this game is about getting back to that sweet, sweet .500 mark. A win here isn’t just a notch in the ‘W’ column; it’s a deep breath of fresh air, a chance to salvage a season that’s been more up-and-down than a rollercoaster designed by a madman. For the Titans? Well, let’s just say they’re in a prime position to start scouting for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. It’s not tanking if you’re just… not very good, right?
The Last Time These Two Met
Let’s rewind to Week 4. The Texans pulled off a 26-0 shutout in Houston. It sounds dominant, but if you watched it, you know it was a 6-0 snoozefest until C.J. Stroud decided to remember he’s a wizard in the fourth quarter. That game was also the second-to-last nail in the coffin for then-Coach Brian Callahan, who was shown the door after a dismal 1-5 start. You hate to see it. Well, maybe not if you’re a Texans fan.
Stroud’s Out, Mills Mafia In
Here’s the big twist in today’s plot: C.J. Stroud is officially out. The golden-armed rookie who has been the talk of the league is sidelined, which means it’s time for the “Mills Mafia” to ride again. Yes, Davis Mills is back under center, and the big question is: which version were we getting? The guy who looked like a deer in headlights for three quarters last week, or the gunslinger who lit up the fourth quarter and led a comeback for the ages?
The Texans were still 5.5-point favorites, according to BetMGM, which tells you everything you needed to know about the state of the Titans. But could Mills and company pull it off on the road and inject some life back into their playoff hopes before a short week and a Thursday Night Football clash with the Bills?
Grab your popcorn and settle in. We’ll be bringing you the highlights, the lowlights, and all the “what were they thinking?” moments right here.
Fourth Quarter Drama Unfolds
We’ve got a game, folks! The Texans clung to a 13-6 lead early in the fourth quarter. It hasn’t been pretty. In fact, it’s been the kind of game only a defensive coordinator could love.
The Texans finally found the end zone in the third quarter when Mills connected with Nico Collins for a 3-yard touchdown. It was a moment of offensive competence in a sea of mediocrity. But the celebration was short-lived as Tytus Howard, arguably the Texans’ most reliable offensive lineman, went down with an injury. He later returned, but it was a heart-in-your-throat moment for Houston.
The defense, however, was the story. Will Anderson Jr. played like a man possessed. He notched a crucial strip-sack in the fourth quarter, extending his sack streak to five games and giving the Texans a takeaway for the eighth straight game. The longest active streak in the NFL. That turnover led to a Matthew Wright field goal, stretching the lead to seven.
Tennessee tied the game on a four-yard reception by Van Jefferson. Houston clinched the win on a 35-yard field goal from Wright as time expired.
