Official Texans @ Titans Game Thread, 1/01/2017
 

This Sunday, the 9-6 Houston Texans hit the road to Nashville for their final regular season game. They will face the 8-7 Tennessee Titans in a noon game on Sunday. The Texans have 2-5 record (also 2-5 ATS) on the road this year while the Titans have a 4-3 (3-4 ATS) home record.

Titan QB Matt Cassel is expected to make the start for the recently injured Marcus Mariota. Expect Cassel to do quite a bit of handing off to DeMarco Murray (1266 yds, 4.5 avg) and Derrick Henry (425 yds, 4.5 avg.). In the passing game, targets will be Rishard Matthews (831 yds, 14.8 avg.), Delanie Walker (765 yds, 12.8 avg), Tajae Sharpe (522 yds, 12.7 avg.), Kendall Wright (416 yds, 14.3 avg) and Murray coming out of the backfield (379 yds, 7.3 avg). On the other side of the ball, the Titan defense currently ranks 21st giving up 362.1 yds/game and 19th giving up 24.1 pts/game. The Titans are coming off a 38-17 road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Texans may rest a few key starters but Coach Bill O'Brien has mentioned that he wants the W in order to increase the Texans three-game winning streak going into the playoffs... The Texans won the first meeting between these two back in Week 4, 27-20 on the strength of a Will Fuller punt return TD.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon Sunday, Jan 1, 2017

Announcers = Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta

The line = Titans by 3

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area (it's double double-header day):

CBS (late) = Oakland @ Denver, Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

FOX (early) = Dallas @ Philadelphia, Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

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

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Prime time:

SNF = Green Bay @ Detroit (NBC)

Pendergast breaks it down: NFL Week 17: Texans-Titans — Four Things to Watch For

Texans win the toss and will kickoff.

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Titans bring the opening kickoff back to their 22 yard line. Titan's ball.

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Murray loses 1.

Murray gets 4. Brings up 3rd and 7.

Pass to Walker gets 7 and the 1st down.

Murray for 1.

Murray for 6. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Cassel's pass is batted down by Covington, inc. Titans will have to punt.

Ervin fair catches the punt at the Texan 13 yard line. Texan's ball.

11:17 left in the 1st qtr.

Ball marked at the 14.

Blue for 2.

Dump to Blue loses 2. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Savage sacked and fumbles, Titans recover in the end zone, TD Titans.

Titans 7, Texans 0

9:57 left in the 1st qtr.

Hunt brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 25 but illegal block in the back on the Texans backs it up 10. Texan's ball at their 13.

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Screen pass to Fuller gets 6. A Titan (Sims) injured on the play. Injury timeout.

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On 2nd and 4, Blue is caught for a loss of 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Short pass to Fuller gets 4. Texans will punt on 4th and 3.

Mariani brings the punt back into Texan territory at the Texan 46. Titan's ball.

7:53 left in the 1st qtr.

Texans OL has already checked out. Rest of the team doesn't look too far behind. I don't need to see Blue rush 25 times this game. I'd like to see Savage drop back 35+ times to pass though.

Pass to Matthews gets 10.

Heath with the sack! Loss of 4.

Flags presnap. Delay of game on the Titans, -5. Makes it 2nd and 19 coming up.

Short pass to Murray loses 2. 3rd and 21 coming up.

Cassel can't find a receiver and scrambles for 3. Titans will have to punt.

Punt is fair caught by Ervin at the Texan 14. Texan's ball.

4:37 left in the 1st qtr.

Savage pressured, throws inc to Blue. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Blue for 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Fido over the middle is off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Mariani brings the punt back to the Titan 41. Titan's ball.

3:28 left in the 1st qtr.

Murray for 3.

Cassel's pass sails out of bounds, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Walker is dropped, inc. Titans have to punt.

Ervin brings the punt back to the Texan 19. Texan's ball.

2:26 left in the 1st qtr.

Oline looks the worst it's ever looked..

What kind of mess is this? Concussion? Really...so now we are getting concussions from not even getting hit?

Grimes for 3.

Pass to Hop down the sideline is too long, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Hop gets 7 and the 1st down. (Woohoo!)

Grimes goes right side for 1 tough yard.

Pass to Fido gets 8. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Oy, Grimes comes up about a foot short of the 1st down.

End of the 1st qtr.

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I tell ya, the Texans must lead the league in 4th and 1.....

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Texans going for it ....

Savage keeps for the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 41.

Oz in at QB.

Grimes loses 1 going right.

Checkdown to Grimes gets the 1st down.

Short pass to Griffin goes inc.

On 2nd and 10, deep pass to Hop is caught but out of bounds so inc.

Oz uses a timeout with 13:04 left in the half. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Mumph crossing over the middle gets 10 and the 1st down.

Pass to Griffin off the mark, inc.

Flags presnap. Defense offsides, +5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Delay to Grimes loses 2.

On 3rd and 7, short pass gains 1. Texans going for it on 4th and 6.

Oz is sacked. Titans take over on downs at their 40.

10:42 left in the half.

Murray for 2.

Pass to Matthews gets 2. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Walker gets 8 and the 1st down.

Mis-direction handoff to Mariani gets about 15.

Murray caught for no gain.

Cassel's pass is tipped and INT'ed by Demps! Texan's ball at their 40!

7:09 left in the half.

Pass to Hop over the middle good for 15.

Checkdown to Blue goes to the Titan 39. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Blue carries for 4 and the 1st down.

Blue for 4.

Oz's pass is deflected, inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Grimes gets almost 4..... Texans going for the FG....

Novak's 45-yard attempt hits the upright, no good.

Score remains:

Titans 7, Texans 0

4:19 left in the half. Titan's ball at their 27.

Ball marked at the Titan 35.

Cassel can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc.

Pitch to Henry going left side gets 7.

Cassel's pass off the mark, inc. Titans will punt with 3:20 left in the half.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 10 yard line. Texan's ball.

Oz still in.

Oz checks out and nearly gets sacked for a safety. Loss of 8, ball at the 2 yard line.

On 2nd and 18, deep pass to Fuller too long, inc.

On 3rd and 18, Oz uses a timeout.

Dump off pass to Griffin gets 1. Texans will have to punt with 2:43 left in the half.

Mariani brings the punt back to the Texan 36. Titan's ball.

Henry for no gain.

2 minute warning.

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Pass to Walker loses 2. 3rd and 12 coming up. Texans out of timeouts. Titans with 1 left.

Offsides on Titans presnap, -5. 3rd and 17 coming up.

Pass to Matthews goes for 25 over the middle, 1st down.

Pass to Matthews gets 7.

Cassel's pass in the end zone can't find a home, inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Cassel's pass is inc but flag is down....holding on Nelson give the Titans a 1st and goal at the 5.

Pass to Matthews goes to the 2.

Pass to Matthews in the end zone good for the TD.

Illegal formation on the point-after on the Titans. Makes it a 38-yard point after.

Point-after is good.

Titans 14, Texans 0

23 seconds left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Savage back in.

Texan's kneeling it.

Halftime.

Titans 14, Texans 0

2nd half kickoff is brought back to the 19. Texan's ball.

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Oz back in.

Pass to Fido off his hands, inc.

Blue for 4. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Hop along the sideline good for the 1st down at the Texan 31.

Grimes for about 8 but a flag is down.....holding on defense, 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Ball at the Texan 44.

Pass to Hop along the sideline over his head, inc.

Delay to Blue gets 10.

Pass to Fido off the mark, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Hop goes all the way to the Titan 19,

Pass to Fuller goes to the 5 yard line. 1st and goal.

Blue for 1. 2nd and goal coming up from the 4 yard line.

Pass to Fido broken up, inc. 3rd and goal coming up.

Pass to Mumph broken up, inc. Texans going for it on 4th down.

Pass to Fido good for the TD! Flag on the play... unsportsmanlike conduct on the Titans will be enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Titans 14, Texans 7

10:31 left in the 3rd qtr.

Texans try the onside kick and botch it....off sides Texans adds 5 yards to the spot. Titan's ball at their 45.

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Flags presnap. Neutral zone infraction on Heath, -5. 1st and 5 coming up.

Murray for almost 3.

Henry for 2. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Henry goes left side for nice gainer. Ball at the Texan 32.

Henry goes left again for no gain.

Henry for 3.

On 3rd and 7, pass to Walker goes for 15. Ball at the Texan 14.

Checkdown to Henry gets 3.

Henry takes it all the way to the 3 yard line. 1st and goal.

Pass to Walker in the end zone caught but out of bounds so inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Henry goes left for the TD.

Titans 21, Texans 7

4:44 left in the 3rd qtr.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Dump off to Blue gets 7.

Pass to Hop gets a 1st down at the Texan 41.

Short pass to Hop gets 5.

Yo! Catch and run by Hop takes it all the way to the Titan 3 yard line!

Blue for no gain.

On 2nd and goal, Oz is pressured and throws inc into the end zone. 3rd and goal from the 3 coming up.

Flags presnap, delay of game on the Texans, -5.

Oz's pass is deflected, inc. Texans going for the FG.

Novak's 26-yarder is good.

Titans 21, Texans 10

2:09 left in the 3rd qtr.

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Hop needs about 50 yards for 1,000......

Red zone ineptitude continues to be mind numbing
 

Red zone ineptitude continues to be mind numbing. It's painful to watch...

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the 26 yard line. Titan's ball.

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Murray for 7.

Murray caught for loss of 1.

End of the 3rd qtr.

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On 3rd and 4, pass to Matthews good for the 1st down at the Titan 40.

Cassel sacked by Heath, Covington with the assist. Loss of 7.

Pass to Matthews off the mark, inc. 3rd and 17 coming up.

Oh man, deep pass to Matthews good for huge gainer. Ball at the Texan 18.

Murray caught for a loss of 2.

Pass to Matthews good for 7 (?).

Pass to Walker gets the 1st down at the Texan 6.

Murray gets 2 but holding on the Titans = -10. 1st and goal from the 16 coming up.

Cassel's pass to Walker goes inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides, Eddie Unpleasant. Makes it 2nd and goal from the 11 coming up.

Cassel sacked by Kamalu. Nice job. Brings up 3rd and goal from the 15.

Cassel can't find a receiver and is shoved out of bounds by Covington. Titans to go for the FG.

Succop's 35-yarder is good.

Titans 24, Texans 10

8:30 left in the game.

I've been thinking about this and I think that the last red zone possession, the one after the long pass to Nuke, I think that was the single worst Texans red zone possession I have ever seen. And that includes the Chris Brown halfback pass which despite many competing entries from these BOB years remains the single worst Texans play I have ever seen.

I really don't understand anything I am seeing here, by the way. If you play Savage then let him sling it around. Don't just feed Alfred Blue. And if you are going to just feed Alfred Blue then by all means do that on fourth and one and don't expose your quarterback to a concussion in an otherwise meaningless game.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Pass over the middle to Mumph goes for 8.

Pass to Grimes gets 12.

Short pass to Grimes gets 8.

Grimes up the gut for the 1st down at the Titan 42.

Oz's pass off the mark downfield, inc.

On 2nd and 10, nice catch by Wendall Williams along the sideline. Ball at the Titan 16.

Pass to Grimes off the mark, inc.

Pass to Williams goes inc.

On 3rd and 10, pass to Griffin gets 9. 4th and 1 coming up. Texans going for it.... Titans challenging that Griffin fumbled...

Play stands. Brings up 4th and 1 for the Texans......

Blue powers left side for 1 and the 1st down. 1st and goal at the 6.

Oz air mails one out of the end zone, inc.

On 2nd and goal, pass to Mumph goes to the 1 yard line.

Blue for no gain. 4th and goal coming up.

Oz can't find a receiver and runs it in for the TD.

Titans 24, Texan 17

3:11 left in the game.

Texans pooch kickoff..... Titans cover it up at their 11.

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Henry for 1. Texans use a timeout (2 left). 3:04 left in the game.

Henry for 4. 3rd and 5 coming up. Texans use another timeout. 2:56 left in the game.

On 3rd and 5, pitchout to Henry gets the 1st down at the Titan 24. Texans out of timeouts.

Henry goes left for another 1st down. 14 yards on the play.

Henry caught by Peters for a loss of 2.

2 minute warning.

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On 2nd and 12 at the Titan 36, Henry goes for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 12.

Titans use a timeout.

On 3rd and 12, Henry gets pushed out of bounds after a gain of 2. Titans to punt.

Ervin fields the punt and is tackled immediately. Ball at the Texan 18. Texan's ball with 53 seconds left.

Pass to Williams gets 16.

Oz spikes it. 35 seconds left.

Pass to Fuller off the mark, inc. 29 seconds left.

On 3rd and 10, Oz is sacked, flag is down.... Holding on the Texans is declined. Brings up 4th and 16.

Oz breaks loose of the pressure and throws a wobbler off the mark, inc. Titans take over on downs with 15 seconds left.

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Titans take a knee.

Final score:

Titans 24, Texans 17

I need a shower.

PLAYOFF GOALS:

Please do not make Brock the starter...

Uptempo passing game from the beginning of the game...

Let Lamar get out into open space through the short passing game...

No power run game...you don't have the line for it


OFFSEASON GOALS:

Fire Rick Smith...

Get anybody that can find lineman in the draft...

We need a complete overhaul on the Oline...

I like Obrien as a head coach but not as a play caller...

Bring in a real OC...

[QUOTE=Big Texas;45158

OFFSEASON GOALS:

Fire Rick Smith...

Get anybody that can find lineman in the draft...

We need a complete overhaul on the Oline...

I like Obrien as a head coach but not as a play caller...

Bring in a real OC...[/QUOTE]

Don't get your hopes up on Smith...

Couldn't agree more on the rest though. Whatever we do this offseason better include some serious investment in the oline. This includes draft, free agents and even coaching. It's among the worst I've ever seen.

As far as OC goes, seems almost as unlikely as Smith getting fired but something's gotta give. Play calling has been atrocious everywhere but the red zone play calling is mind numbing. Of coarse it would probably look a hell of a lot better if we had a competent oline blocking.