The Tennessee Titans (7-7) are set to host the Houston Texans (1-12-1) in what is a crucial game for head coach Mike Vrabel’s team.
Tennessee is looking to avoid a fifth-straight loss at all costs as they continue to inch toward possibly one of the most embarrassing and disappointing collapses in franchise history.
This week they face a Texans team that has been playing some of its best football as of late. In fact, to be perfectly honest, you could make a very strong argument that the Texans have looked like a better football team recently.
In its last two outings, Houston may not have walked away with a victory in either game, but the Texans very much had Dallas and Kansas City both on the ropes for the majority of those contests.
This game won’t be a walk in the park by any means, so let’s take a closer look at three matchups that will likely play a large role in determining Saturday’s outcome.
Malik Willis vs. Texans' pass defense
With Ryan Tannehill seemingly done for the rest of the 2022 season with an ankle injury, rookie quarterback Malik Willis will take over going forward with the chance to prove that he should be the starting quarterback in 2023.
Every Titans fan should be rooting for Willis to show enough promise over these next few weeks that the team feels comfortable enough to hand the keys of the franchise over to the young signal-caller.
That reality would be a game-changer for this franchise, as it would be able to focus on adding pieces around the Liberty product in the hopes of maximizing his potential to the fullest.
Willis’ first test to prove that he’s capable and ready for such a full-time promotion is this weekend against the very same opponent that he made his first career start against back in October.
The Titans’ recent third-round selection will have the opportunity to show how much he’s grown since that relatively quiet outing in Houston, when he only accounted for 55 passing yards and one interception on six completions.
The Liberty legend also added 12 rushing yards on five carries.
Truthfully, it was a rather underwhelming day from the rookie quarterback, but he did show obvious signs of growth during his next start in Kansas City, as well as last weekend in a small sample size.
Dare I say that Malik Willis has shades of Jalen Hurts in his game? pic.twitter.com/vo5sjMhruh
— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) December 19, 2022
Willis now has the chance to validate all of the rave reviews he’s been getting from the coaching staff as of late. To do so, Tennessee’s young quarterback will have to face a Texans pass defense that comes in at 19th.
Willis will also have to overcome the fact that he will be without at least two starters on the offensive line, as center Ben Jones and right guard Nate Davis have been ruled out.
However, on the bright side of things, it seems to be trending toward the rookie signal-caller at least having his best wide receiver in the lineup after Treylon Burks was a full participant in practice this week.
Treylon Burks is a stud 🤩#Titans pic.twitter.com/4yarMlBsGI
— Shaun Calderon (@ShaunMichaels31) November 28, 2022
Burks has missed the majority of the last three games after suffering a concussion in Philadelphia.
The Arkansas product was also sidelined for both of Willis’ previous two starts earlier in the year, which means this will be the first time these two will play extended snaps together in a meaningful game.
Willis and Co. will have the chance to face a Texans secondary that will be without its top cornerback, Derrick Stingley Jr. Houston corner Steven Nelson is also listed as questionable at the moment.
This is a good opportunity for Willis to show where he’s grown since the last time he took the field as the starter.
Derrick Henry vs. Texans’ run defense
It’s been no secret that Titans running back Derrick Henry has dominated the Texans over his entire career. The King has amassed 202 carries for 1,254 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 career games against Houston.
Over his last four games against them, Henry has rushed for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in each outing, totaling 892 yards and nine touchdowns since the end of the 2019 season.
Derrick Henry’s last 4 games against the Texans:
32 rushes, 211 yards, 3 TD, 39.1 FP
22 rushes, 212 yards, 2 TD, 40.4 FP
34 rushes, 250 yards, 2 TD, 35 FP
32 rushes, 219 yards, 2 TD, 35.8 FP pic.twitter.com/q1Z65rYdFx— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 22, 2022
In their last meeting in Week 8, the Titans’ superstar running back rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns, helping Tennessee overcome a lackluster passing attack.
Needless to say, this Titans team that desperately needs a win is hoping their Pro Bowl running back can once again replicate the type of success he’s had in the past.
To do so, Henry will have to take advantage of the Texans’ league-worst run defense that is allowing over 167 yards per game at the moment, per Team Rankings.
Unfortunately for him, an already subpar offensive line is now missing their most competent remaining starters up front.
Center Ben Jones’ season is over in all likelihood after suffering his second concussion in a month, while right guard Nate Davis is battling a knee injury that’s keeping him out this week at the very minimum.
There’s no telling how this impacts Henry’s performance on Saturday, but the likelihood of him going over 200 for a fifth-straight meeting is much less likely than it has been in previous contests.
Titans’ pass rush vs. Texans’ offensive line
For the first time in what feels like ages, the Titans are going to have Denico Autry, Bud Dupree and Jeffery Simmons all on the field together at the same time.
If it feels like it hasn’t happened much this year, that’s because it hasn’t. Simmons, Autry, and Dupree have only been together for approximately 14 percent of the defensive snaps this season.
That’s an unfortunate reality considering this trio was expected to be one of the strengths of this football team coming into the 2022 campaign.
Ever since Harold Landry went down before the season began with a torn ACL, it seems like their dominant front-four has constantly been taking hits in some shape or form.
This week, Simmons, Autry, and Dupree get their chance to re-unite against a formidable Texans offensive line that rosters one of the best left tackles in the entire league.
Best pass-blocking tackles this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/3coEtGdaaX
— PFF (@PFF) December 21, 2022
Texans Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil has allowed just one sack, two quarterback hits, and 11 pressures on the year. As a whole, the Texans’ O-line is currently yielding an average of 2.4 sacks per game, ranking right in the middle of the pack and tied for 15th after 14 games.
Now that The Titans’ pass-rush is together again, they hope to eclipse that average and get back to wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks, starting with Davis Mills on Saturday.
If the Titans’ pass-rush can get back to being the tenacious group it once was, the group should be able to give its team a puncher’s chance going forward.
