NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Houston Texans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a quick look at the Texans:
Record: 1-8.
Points for/against: 14.2/28.7.
NFL RANKINGS
Offense: 32nd overall, 280.1 ypg (31st rushing, 29th passing).
Defense: 30th overall, 385.9 ypg (31st rushing, 18th passing).
TEAM LEADERS
Head coach: David Culley.
Offense:
QB: Tyrod Taylor (55-of-87, 656 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 83.3 rating).
Top RB: Phillip Lindsay (49 rush, 133 yards, 1 TD).
Top WR: WR Brandin Cooks (57 catches, 641 yards, 2 TDs).
Top TE: Pharoah Brown (12 catches, 114 yards, 0 TDs).
Defense:
Sacks: DE Jonathan Greenard (7).
Leading tackler: LB Christian Kirksey (56).
Interceptions: DB Lonnie Johnson (3).
Take/Give: -3 (14/17).
Kicker: Ka'imi Fairbairn (6-of-8 FGs, 3-of-5 PATs).
Punter: Cameron Johnston (46.8, 43.0).
Last meeting: January 3, 2021: Titans 41, Texans 38.
Of note:
-Texans defensive back Desmond King II played nine games with the Titans in 2020.
-Texans head coach David Culley was a four-year letterman at Vanderbilt, and he grew up in Sparta, Tennessee, where he played at White County High School.
-Texans inside linebacker Zach Cunningham played collegiately at Vanderbilt for three seasons (2014-16).
-Texans offensive lineman Justin McCray originally signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and he spent his rookie season on Tennessee's practice squad.
-Texans practice squad fullback Paul Quessenberry is the younger brother of Titans right tackle David Quessenberry.
-Texans director of sports performance planning and medical administration Geoff Kaplan spent 14 seasons as an assistant trainer with the Oilers/Titans (1995-2009).
Injury Report
LB Hardy Nickerson (concussion)
QB Deshaun Watson (not injury related)
WR Danny Amendola (not injury related)
TE Pharoah Brown (thigh)
RB Rex Burkhead (not injury related)
WR Brandin Cooks (not injury related)
DL Jonathan Greenard (foot)
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel …
(on Texans defensive back and kick returner Desmond King II)
He has done a fantastic job. He is a very good returner. He is a strong returner. He is much different than the player that we played last week. (Desmond King II) is going to catch it and he is going to use his play strength to get north and south. Defensively, he has done a nice job. He is disrupting the football. He has had some caused fumbles hammering at the football. He plays outside for them, has played inside. We will have to make sure that if we catch it on him, we put it away. Him and (Terrance) Mitchell especially do a nice job of hammering the football.
(on what challenges Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor presents)
The ability to scramble. The ability to mix in whether it is the RPO game or him running with the football. I think that will always be something that is critical to understand with Tyrod (Taylor) who has won games in this league. We will have to try to make sure we are good on the edges and when we rush. It is probably a different style each week and his style is such that if all the rush lanes aren't sound, he will be able to put the ball away and gain yards. Everybody has their back turned covering man-to-man so if we are reckless in our rush, he can make you pay.
(on running back D'Onta Foreman and how he has seen him change since they were both in Houston)
I did know D'Onta. Pretty much the same evaluation. I thought he was a natural runner, he has always been a natural runner. I remember him catching the ball well in Houston against us, whether it was in training camp or any type of competitive period. I remember him catching the ball. He is a natural catcher which I think showed up the other day. Just somebody who is familiar with our system.
