The Tennessee Titans will face the Houston Texans in Week 12. Entering the contest, the Titans have a record of 2-8 while the Texans are 7-4.
The Titans have not won in Houston since October 2022. While the playoffs are no longer out of the question for the Titans, the team could at least play spoilsport and hand the Texans another loss.
Per the Titans are once again the big underdogs. The Texans have an 8-point advantage at home and the over/under is 40.5.
Ahead of this divisional battle, let's identify five things you should know.
The Titans have a slight lead in the all-time series
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs after the catch against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Week 12, the Titans hold a 23-21 lead over the Texans. This means the Texans could tie the all-time series with a win over the Titans in 2024.
It will be a difficult task for the Titans to escape this reality. The Texans are the heavy favorites in this game and the Titans have not beaten their rivals since October 2022.
The last time these rivals played, the Texans won 26-3.
Will Levis is playing his best football lately
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) plays in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
For the first half of the 2024 season, it seemed obvious that the Titans would have a new quarterback in 2025. I'm not saying that's not the case now, but Levis has at least thought about considering himself again.
Against the Chargers in Week 10, Levis had no turnovers and threw for 175 yards with two touchdowns. In Week 11, Levis threw for 295 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The difference is that Levi's Week 11 INT came at the end of the game and wasn't a game-changing momentum killer.
A story about two goal violations
Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud (7) runs with the ball as Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58). Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
CJ Stroud and the Texans are No. 14 in the NFL in points per game. The Titans are now No. 28 in the same category.
The Texans score 23.5 points per game while the Titans only average 17.0 points. This just feels like another game where if the Titans' opponent scores 20 points, it's game over.
In the passing game it's more of the same. The Texans average 221.5 yards per game while the Titans average just 178.4 yards. Can Will Levis keep up with Stroud?
Familiar faces for both teams
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Texans added two key Titan defensemen this offseason in Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair only spent one season in Nashville, but endeared himself to fans in that short time, while Autry was a fan favorite.
Now both will compete for the Titans' arch-nemesis. The Texans also feature former Titans Mario Edwards Jr. and Robert Woods. The Titans, meanwhile, have former Texan Ali Gaye on the roster.
Brian Callahan's 2nd Division Test
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Titans have already played 10 games, but only one of them was a division game. The Titans lost to the Colts, but it was easily a winnable game.
Now Brian Callahan gets another chance to play against a division opponent. Will the coach be able to secure his first AFC South win and third overall? Or will the Titans continue to fall in the AFC standings?
