NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (6-9) conclude their 2013 season this week, welcoming the AFC South rival Houston Texans (2-13) to LP Field (capacity 69,143). Kickoff is scheduled for noon CST on Sunday, Dec. 29.
In the first meeting this season, played on Sept. 15 at Reliant Stadium, the Texans edged the Titans in overtime by a final score of 30-24. The Titans lead 14-9 in the overall series, which dates back to 2002.
THE BROADCAST
This week's game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Andrew Catalon will handle play-by-play duties while Adam Archuleta provides analysis.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
TITANS LOOK TO FINISH 2013 ON WINNING NOTE
Last week the Titans traveled to Jacksonville, where they earned a 20-16 victory. Ryan Fitzpatrick's 30-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington early in the fourth quarter provided the deciding points.
Washington led the team with 117 yards on six receptions, recording his eighth career 100-yard game and his third of 2013. He is 120 receiving yards away from his second career 1,000-yard season.
Another Titans wideout, Kendall Wright, is on the verge of capping one of the most prolific receiving seasons in franchise history. Wright enters Week 17 with 89 catches, already seventh on the team's single-season list. Seven more would put him third, while 11 would make him the third player for the team to reach 100 receptions in a season. He needs 12 more to reach Charlie Hennigan's team record of 101 receptions, set in 1964.
Additionally at Jacksonville, the Titans totaled 44 rushing attempts for 182 yards. Shonn Greene led the way with 91 yards and a touchdown on 19 attempts, while Chris Johnson had 90 yards on 22 carries. They became the team's first duo since Dec. 7, 2008 (Johnson and LenDale White at Cleveland) to each record at least 90 rushing yards in a game.
With 950 rushing yards through 15 games, Johnson has a chance to become the sixth player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first six seasons. He would join the select company of Barry Sanders, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Dickerson and Corey Dillon.
The Titans defense was not without big plays of its own against the Jaguars, particularly late in the day. The unit stuffed the Jaguars on fourth-and-one from the Tennessee 20-yard line, and to seal the outcome once and for all, safety George Wilson recorded an interception in the final minute of play.
*THE TEXANS *
The Texans are searching for their first win since their victory over the Titans in Week 2. Last week, they hosted the Denver Broncos and fell by a final score of 37-13.
On Dec. 6, the team relieved head coach Gary Kubiak of his duties and named defensive coordinator Wade Phillips interim head coach. The decision ended Kubiak's tenure of seven-plus seasons leading the club.
Phillips, son of the late Oilers head coach Bum Phillips, owns a lengthy résumé that includes 37 years of coaching experience and 31 seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach. He served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys (2007-10), Buffalo Bills (1998-2000) and Denver Broncos (1993-94), as well as the interim head coach of the 2003 Atlanta Falcons (three games) and the 1985 New Orleans Saints (five games).
Led by Phillips, Houston's defense is ranked seventh in the NFL. Against the pass, the unit is ranked third. Defensive end J.J. Watt, the 2012 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year, has been credited in 2013 with a team-high 9.5 sacks.
On offense, Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson leads the AFC and ranks second in the NFL with 103 receptions for 1,358 yards. Last week he matched Wes Welker's NFL record with his fifth career season registering 100 or more receptions.
Matt Schaub returned to the lineup at quarterback against the Broncos. He started the first six games of the season before Case Keenum took over for the following eight contests.
