Official Texans @ Titans Game Thread, 12/24/2022

[Keith]

The Texans (1-12-1) travel to a frozen north in Nashville to face the suddenly free-falling Titans (7-7)on Saturday. The Texans are still without a multitude of starters, but the Titans, losers of four straight and clinging to a 1-game lead on the division, will have at best a hobbled QB Ryan Tannehill (if at all) as he manages an ankle injury. Malik Wills will step in if Tannehill can't play. The nation will be in a deep freeze this weekend, and Nashville won't be spared. Temps for warm-ups might be in the single digits and just in the teens at gametime.

--------------------------------------------------------

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Saturday, noon CST, 12/24/2022

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

The line = Tennessee by 4.5 (opened at 7)

--------------------------------------------------------

Other Saturday viewing in the Houston area:

FOX (early) = NY Giants @ Minnesota, Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth

FOX (late) = Philadelphia @ Dallas, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen

---------------------------------------------------------

Prime time:

TNF = Jacksonville @ NY Jets (Amazon Prime)

Saturday (7:15pm) = Las Vegas @ Pittsburgh, RIch Eisen, Kurt Warner, Steve Mariucci, Michael Irvin (NFLN)

Sunday (12:00pm) = Green Bay @ Miami, Joe Davis, Darryl Johnston (FOX)

Sunday (3:30pm) = Denver @ LA Rams, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo (CBS, also Nickelodeon)

SNF = Tampa Bay @ Arizona (NBC)

MNF = LA Chargers @ Indianapolis (ESPN)

[Keith]

Kickoff delayed until at least 1:02pm CT due to rolling blackouts in the Nashville area.

Titans inactives:
Ryan Tannehill
John Reed
Kristian Fulton
Josh Thompson
Amani Hooker
Dylan Cole
Mario Edwards Jr.

Texans inactives:
Kyle Allen
Kenyon Green
O.J. Howard
Mario Addison
Cobi Francis

Expect Brandin Cooks to play.

[Keith]

Kickoff temp is 20 degrees, a record low for a NFL game in Nashville. Stadium seems less than half full.

Texans win toss and defer. Titans go three-and-out to start. Ogbo Okoronkwo and Blake Cashman sack Malik Willis. Punt to HOU 26.

Jeff Driskel at WR to start, Davis Mills under center. Mmmkay. 2-yd handoff and a couple incompletions. Punt for 38 yds returned to TEN 40.

Malik Willis completes a 3rd down pass at midfield, but is just inches short. Titans go for it, and Willis dives easily for the first down. Derrick Henry then busts through the line for a 48-yd touchdown run.

Extra point by Randy Bullock is good.

0-7, Titans
8:48 remaining in the 1st quarter

[chuck]

I wonder if Sean Payton would be interested in the team, and I wonder if that would even be a step in the right direction.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by chuck

I wonder if Sean Payton would be interested in the team, and I wonder if that would even be a step in the right direction.

I cannot see Payton wanting any part of this franchise. Wants to bring Vic Fangio with him, and I cannot see Fangio wanting to come back, either.

[Keith]

Henry looking to go over 200 yards agains this team for the fifth straight game. Gains 13 after a holding call. Okoronkwo comes up with a big sack on third down. His second today... this guy is trying out there.

Desmond King has a 9-yard return on the punt. Next drive will start in good position on Houston's 41.

Howard reported to be in concussion protocol, so he's probably out.

Titans flagged for offsides. Dare Ogunbowale loses 2 yards on a 1st-and-5, but gets 7 on the next carry for a new set of downs. Driskel-cat returns, Mills off. At least Mills can put on a coat to keep warm during this circus. Titans also forced to call a timeout with 12 men on the field during these subs.

Driskel completes the next play to Chris Moore for 13. Mills back in, motions Jordan from TE to FB, then throws deep to Brandin Cooks for a 33-yd score, but it is called back by a holding penalty on Akins. Oof. Driskel finds Moore for 12 on the 1st-and-20, then Mills to Akins sets up a 3rd-and-3 from the TEN 26. Freeman logs a tough carry for just enough to extend the drive.

First down completion to Freeman gets the offense into the redzone, and Freeman takes a pitch to get another first down at the 12. Drive stalls. Fairbairn kicks the 25-yd field goal.

Texans 10-7
6:50 remaining in the half.

[Keith]

Following the touchback, drive starts at HOU 25. LG Tytus Howard down on the field following the team's first 1st down of the game. Walked off but doesn't seem good. After a medical tent visit, he walks into the locker room.

Driskel completes to Brevin Jordan for another first down to the Titans' 46. Royce Freeman getting the carries today, gets 4 yards and is up to 16. Mills throws to Driskel on 2nd down for 4 yards. Mills throws on 3rd down to a wide open Jordan Akins for 30 yards to the TEN 8.

Former Texan Zac Cunningham nearly intercepts Mills on 2nd down. Lovie Smith then calls his first timeout. Mills scrambles right and has nowhere to go, so he runs for the goalline and loses the ball into the endzone where Rex Burkhead falls on it. Play reviewed as Mills might have tried to pitch it forward incomplete, but it stands. Mills was just reaching out. Burkhead had stepped out of bounds but came back in before recovering.

Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks the extra point.

Texans 7, Titans 7
2:34 remaining in the 1st.