TEAM NOTES
· The Titans' 17-10 victory at Houston increased their winning streak to five games. It marks the team's third consecutive season with a winning streak of at least five games.
· This marks the third consecutive season the Titans have been 5-2 after seven games.
· It was the Titans' fourth consecutive win at Houston and their fifth consecutive win in AFC South contests.
· The Titans improved to 3-0 within the division in 2022 and remain in first place with a 5-2 overall record, ahead of the 3-4-1 Indianapolis Colts, the 2-6 Jacksonville Jaguars and the 1-5-1 Texans.
· Defensive tackle Larrell Murchison and wide receiver Chris Conley became the 67th and 68th players to participate in a game for the Titans in 2022.
TEAM NOTES – OFFENSE
· As a team, the Titans rushed for 314 yards on 45 rushing attempts for an average of 7.0 yards per carry. It was the second-highest rushing yardage total in Titans/Oilers history, trailing only a 332-yard performance at Kansas City on Oct. 19, 2008. Derrick Henry led the way at Houston with 219 rushing yards, followed by Dontrell Hilliard (83) and Malik Willis (12).
· The Titans had a 34:48 time of possession at Houston, their best of the season through seven games.
· On a 12-play, 81-yard series that began in the third quarter and finished in the fourth quarter, the Titans ran the ball on their first 10 plays before an incompletion on third down led to a field goal. The drive consumed 7 minutes and 16 seconds, the Titans' second-highest amount of time in a single drive through the first seven games of 2022.
· During the Super Bowl era (1966 to present), the Titans became the fifth team to total at least 300 rushing yards in a game in which the team's quarterback was making his first start. The previous teams to accomplish the feat were the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 16, 1973 (360 rushing yards with Joe Ferguson starting); the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 29, 1976 (317 rushing yards with Scott Bull starting); the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 6, 1981 (354 rushing yards with Glenn Carano starting); and the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 7, 2008 (318 rushing yards with Matt Ryan starting).
TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE
· The Titans defense registered its fourth consecutive game with three sacks, the team's longest such streak since a five-game run in 2017.
· The 161 yards allowed by the Titans was their sixth-best defensive performance during the team's "Titans era" (since 1999) and the best since the Pittsburgh Steelers totaled 127 yards against them on Sept. 19, 2010. It included 43 rushing yards and 118 net passing yards.
· Texans running back Dameon Pierce, the NFL's sixth-leading rusher entering the week, was limited by the Titans defense to 35 yards on 15 carries for an average of 2.3 yards per attempt.
· The Titans defense held the Texans to 43 total rushing yards on 18 attempts (2.4 avg.). It was the third time in a four-game span the Titans' opponent failed to reach 50 rushing yards.
· The Titans defense limited the Texans to 10 total first downs, the fewest by a Titans opponent since the Jaguars had nine first downs on Dec. 12, 2021.
· The Texans converted only two of their 14 third-down attempts—14.3 percent. It was the third time in a five-game span the Titans' opponent was under 15.0 percent on third down.
· The Titans limited the Texans to a 67.6 passer rating, the lowest of the season by a Titans opponent through seven games.
· The Titans defense allowed 35 total net yards in the first half, the fewest by any Titans opponent in the first half of a game since the Texans had 24 yards in the first half against them on Oct. 21, 2007. It was the fewest yards allowed by any NFL defense in the first half of any game in 2022.
· The three first downs by the Texans in the first half were the fewest by a Titans opponent in the first half since the Chicago Bears totaled three first downs in the first two quarters on Nov. 8, 2020.
· For the fourth consecutive game, the Titans defense did not allow a score on the opponent's first possession. Cornerback Kristian Fulton notched an interception to end Houston's first drive.
K RANDY BULLOCK
· Made one of his two field goal attempts, connecting from 29 yards in the fourth quarter. He also made both of his extra point attempts.
LS MORGAN COX
· Appeared in his 200th combined regular season (189) and postseason (11) game.
LB ZACH CUNNINGHAM
· Returned from an injury to start and register four tackles against his former team.
OLB BUD DUPREE
· Finished with two tackles, including a sack.
· Dropped quarterback Davis Mills for a 13-yard loss in the second quarter. The sack came on third down, forcing the Texans to settle for a field goal. It gave Dupree three sacks in 2022 and 45.5 sacks in his career.
CB KRISTIAN FULTON
· Tallied an interception, three tackles and a team-high two passes defensed.
· Produced his first interception of the season and the fourth interception of his career, picking off a Davis Mills pass in the third quarter.
RB HASSAN HASKINS
· Led the team with three special teams tackles and added a 17-yard kickoff return.
RB DERRICK HENRY
· Rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries for an average of 6.8 yards per attempt.
· Set the franchise's all-time career touchdown record. On fourth-and-goal in the third quarter, on his 21st rushing attempt of the game, he reached the end zone on a one-yard run to score his 75th career touchdown (72 rushing and three receiving), breaking Eddie George's franchise touchdown mark (74). In the second quarter, he scored on a 29-yard run to tie George's record and move ahead of Earl Campbell (73).
· With 72 career rushing touchdowns, he moved to within one rushing touchdown of tying Earl Campbell (73) for the most in franchise history.
· Recorded the sixth 200-yard rushing performance of his career to tie O.J. Simpson and Adrian Peterson for the most in NFL history. He logged his fourth consecutive 200-yard rushing game against the Texans.
· Registered his sixth career game with at least 200 rushing yards and at least two rushing touchdowns, the most in the NFL since 1950, ahead of LaDainian Tomlinson (three), Barry Sanders (three) and Jim Brown (three).
· Recorded his 12th career game with 150 or more rushing yards to tie LaDainian Tomlinson for the third-most in NFL history behind only Barry Sanders (25) and Jim Brown (13).
· Notched his 11th career game with 150-plus rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns, moving past Barry Sanders (10) for the third-highest total in NFL history behind only Jim Brown (13) and LaDainian Tomlinson (12).
· Finished with the fourth-highest single-game rushing yardage total in franchise history and the third-best total of his career. The only better rushing performances in team annals were his 250 yards at Houston on Jan. 3, 2021, his 238 yards against Jacksonville on Dec. 6, 2018, and Chris Johnson's 228 yards against Jacksonville on Nov. 1, 2009.
· Tallied his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, which tied the second-best streak of his career (five games in 2021 and four games in 2019). It was his 32nd career 100-yard rushing effort, including regular season (29) and playoffs (three).
· Accounted for 238 scrimmage yards (219 rushing and nine receiving) for the fifth-best total of his career and the 14th-highest total in franchise history.
· Tallied his fifth consecutive game with at least 130 scrimmage yards, tying his career-best streak (2021).
· Played his 100th combined game in the regular season (93) and playoffs (seven).
· Produced 15 carries for 124 yards and one touchdown in the first half alone. The 124 rushing yards made up the fourth-best amount of his career in the first half of a game.
· Recorded a season-long 41-yard run in the first quarter.
· Registered his fourth consecutive game against the Texans with at least two touchdowns, tying for the most consecutive multi-touchdown performances by any player against a single opponent in NFL history.
· Recorded 30-plus rushing attempts for the eighth time in his career.
· In addition to becoming the first Titans/Oilers player to score 75 touchdowns, Henry cracked the NFL's top 10 for the fewest career games needed to reach 75 touchdowns since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. Henry did so in his 93rd career game, surpassing wide receiver Randy Moss (94 games needed) for 10th place on the list.
RB DONTRELL HILLIARD
· Carried the ball eight times for 83 yards, the second-best rushing yardage total of his career.
· Added one reception for 12 yards to give him 95 scrimmage yards, the second-highest amount of his career.
· Posted rushing attempts of 21 yards and 30 yards during the same drive in the third quarter to help set up a Titans touchdown.
ILB DAVID LONG JR.
· Led the team with eight tackles, including two tackles for loss, which tied for the team lead.
CB ROGER McCREARY
· Finished second on the defense with six tackles.
DT JEFFERY SIMMONS
· Sacked Davis Mills for a 12-yard loss in the third quarter. The play gave him 5.5 sacks in 2022 and 19.0 sacks in his career.
· Owns a streak of three consecutive games with at least one sack for the first time in his career.
· Tied for the team lead with two tackles for loss.
P RYAN STONEHOUSE
· Averaged 48.8 yards (40.8 net) on five punts with four punts placed inside the 20.
QB RYAN TANNEHILL
· Ended his streak of 49 consecutive starts when he was deactivated for the contest. It was the longest consecutive starting streak by a quarterback in franchise history.
DL DeMARCUS WALKER
· Recorded two tackles, including a nine-yard sack of Davis Mills in the fourth quarter. It was his first sack as a member of the Titans and gave him 13.5 career sacks.
QB MALIK WILLIS
· Registered his first NFL start, filling in for injured starter Ryan Tannehill. He completed six of 10 passes for 55 yards with one interception, and he added 12 rushing yards on five attempts.
· Became the sixth rookie quarterback in Titans/Oilers history and the first since Marcus Mariota in 2015 to win his first NFL start.
WR ROBERT WOODS
· Led the team with two receptions and 26 receiving yards.
· Totaled 40 yards on four punt returns, including a 16-yarder that was the second-longest of his career.
· Recovered an onside kick late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
