HOUSTON – The Titans beat the Texans 32-27 on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Here's a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Will Levis Continues to Make Strides
Titans quarterback Will Levis came out firing, completing his first 11 passes on the day. Levis finished the game 18-of-24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, with scoring tosses to receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and tight end Chig Okonwko. Levis wasn't perfect – he wasn't without blame on some of the eight sacks allowed, and he threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. "Credit to the coaching staff for dialing up some awesome stuff," Levis said. What I liked most about Levis is he got off the mat following his Pick 6, what might've been a killer mistake in the past. "I thought he played, for the most part, fantastic," Coach Brian Callahan said. "I was really happy with the way he played. I'm really proud of Will." Levis has made strides in recent weeks, and it's an encouraging sign for Levis, and the Titans.
Tony Pollard Had a Productive Day
Pollard was a workhorse once again, and he played a big role in the Titans being able to control the football, and the clock. Pollard ran for 119 yards on 24 carries, and he scored on a 10-yard touchdown run. Pollard also busted off a 27-yard run in the contest. "That was big for our offense," Pollard said of the running game. "Being able to be balanced, to rely on the run game when we needed it, and then getting those explosive plays in the air. Just us feeding off one another was big for us today." The Titans held the ball for 34:29 minutes on Sunday, compared to 25:31 for the Texans. Pollard has been a key figure for the Titans all season, and he's now up to 800 yards on the season.
Killer Instinct on Defense
The defense gave up some plays on Sunday, but the unit also made plenty of them. And, I loved the killer instinct at the end, when the defense smelled blood, and went for the kill. It came in the form of back-to-back sacks from defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and edge rusher Harold Landry, who sealed the win with a sack for a safety. "We felt confident if it came down to us," Landry said, "we were going to go out there and make something happen." Even before that, the defense made winning plays. Cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had an interception, and a big pass break-up late. Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. had an interception. Big defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat recorded his first sack of the season, back home in Texas. And, edge rusher Ali Gaye also recorded a sack against his former team. The Titans handled the adversity well, including finding out safety Amani Hooker wouldn't be able to play in pregame because of an illness. Others stepped up.
Pass Protection Struggled
I mentioned earlier Levis was sacked eight times in the contest. Seeing Levis go down time and again is getting old, and it's been a problem all season. In his eight starts, Levis has been sacked 35 times. Left tackle JC Latham had his share of struggles on Sunday, as he was beaten on two of the sacks. Levis faced pressure from all angles against the Texans, however. And, as I mentioned previously, Levis isn't without some blame on this, as he failed to get rid of the football on several occasions when he had a chance. The Titans desperately need to get better here if they're going to win – and if Levis is going to survive the season. The only thing that could be deemed as a positive here: Levis was sacked just once in the second half after being sacked seven times in the first half.
Mistakes Continue, and That Includes Special Teams
Speaking of continued issues, it seems like it's something different every week special teams. The Texans returned the opening kickoff 81 yards, and it served them up for an easy score just 18 seconds into the game. Later in the contest, returner Jha'Quan Jackson fumbled a punt, which led to three more points for the Texans. This is a Titans team that can't afford to help the opponent, and that continues to happen. "Those are things that we overcame," Callahan said. "Those are things that we can't have. That's sometimes enough to lose you a game, and today, thankfully it wasn't. We have to be better." Some of the issues on special teams are plain and simple: Players have to wrap up and tackle, and returners can't fumble the football. There were some positive on special teams on Sunday, however. Punter Ryan Stonehouse followed up a shanked punt with a clutch one that pinned the Texans deep late. And, there was the performance of kicker Nick Folk, who gets his own category.
Nick Folk's Still Got It
Yes, Folk was one of the heroes on Sunday, when he nailed kicks from 51, 51 and 56 yards. The 56-yarder came at the end of the first half, and it gave the Titans some momentum heading into the break. It was Folk's longest field goal in over 10 years. Folk, who turned 40 earlier this year, has been money for the Titans this season, making 17 of his 18 field goals, and all 21 of his PATs. Folk had a bunch of family at the game to celebrate another big day.
