NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Houston Texans in the season finale on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at six things to watch in the contest:
QB Rotation
The Titans have used two quarterbacks this season, with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph taking turns as the starter. Their stats are remarkably similar – Levis has thrown 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 79.8 passer rating, while Rudlolph has thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions with a 79.3 rating. On Sunday, both quarterbacks will play against the Texans. Levis will get the start, coach Brian Callahan said. It will be the first appearance by Levis since being benched in Week 15. How this rotation looks – and how the QBs perform – will go a long way in determining the outcome.
Will the Texans Play Their Starters?
The Texans have already clinched the AFC South, and they're locked into the 4 seed regardless of any Week 18 outcome. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said earlier this week the team will find a balance and "that everybody has to be ready to go, everybody will be playing." What that looks like for Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud and the rest of the Texans starters remains to be seen, however. Davis Mills, Houston's back-up quarterback, has thrown just 14 passes this season.
Does Ridley Get 1,000?
Titans receiver Calvin Ridley hasn't tried to hide the fact he wants to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Heading into the season finale, Ridley is sitting at 941 receiving yards for the season, so he needs 59 yards to get there. It would be Ridley's third career season with 1,000-plus yards. If Ridley reaches 1,000 receiving yards, Ridley would become the sixth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat in his first season with the franchise. He would join Bill Groman, Drew Hill, Ernest Givins, A.J. Brown and DeAndre Hopkins. Ridley, by the way, had 93 receiving yards in the Week 12 contest at Houston.
Defense
The Titans enter Sunday ranked second in the NFL in total defense, and second in passing defense, allowing opponents an average of 307.3 total yards per game and 177.9 net passing yards per contest. The last time the Titans finished in the top five in total defense was 2007, when they ranked fifth, and their most recent top-five finish in passing defense was 2000, when they led the league. At its current rate of 177.9 average passing yards allowed, the 2024 unit is averaging its second-best opponent passing figure in the franchise's "Titans era," which began in 1999. The current average of 307.3 total yards allowed per game ranks fifth for the defense in the Titans era. How will this group finish?
Will Okonkwo Keep Momentum?
Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo has 22 catches over the past three games, and he now has 52 catches for 479 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Okonkwo needs three catches and 50 receiving yards for new career highs in each category. Okonkwo has appeared in every contest since entering the NFL in 2022. In 50 career games, Okonkwo has accumulated 138 receptions for 1,457 yards and six touchdowns. In franchise history, he ranks fourth for receptions in a tight end's first 50 games with the club. Only Delanie Walker (234 receptions), Frank Wycheck (166) and Willard Dewveall (141) had more than Okonkwo, and each of those previous players joined the club as veterans from other organizations. Okonkwo's receiving yardage total is the sixth-best figure among franchise tight ends within their first 50 games with the team.
What's at Stake
As I mentioned earlier, the Texans are locked into the 4 seed. The Titans, well, they'll enter the contest on a five-game losing streak, and with a 3-13 record. I told folks I'd keep up with the draft scenarios after the team was eliminated, so I'll include this: The Titans are currently scheduled to pick 2nd in the 2025 NFL Draft, behind only the Patriots, who are also 3-13. A New England win (vs Buffalo) paired with a Tennessee loss, and the Titans would pick 1st in the upcoming draft. With a loss, the Titans would pick no worse than 2nd. With the Browns and Giants also sitting at 3-13 heading into Week 18, and the Jaguars, Panthers, Jets, Raiders and Bears all sitting at 4-12, a lot could change based on Sunday's results. The Titans, by the way, are 1.5-point favorites on Sunday. They'll be decked out in Oilers throwback uniforms as they go for the season sweep against the Texans.
