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 = Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

The line = 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.