The Tennessee Titans have a massive divisional clash awaiting them this weekend against a hobbled Houston Texans team that will be without some key players.
Headlining that list of key players is quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is doubtful and highly unlikely to play. Veteran Case Keenum is reportedly expected to start in Stroud’s place.
That’s good news for a Titans team that is trying to win its first division game since Oct. 30, 2022. Since then, the Titans have dropped six straight division contests, including three this season alone.
The Titans are also looking to win back-to-back games for the first time, something this team hasn’t accomplished since Weeks 10 and 11 of 2022.
Believe it or not, there is a path to where the Titans can end the week being just one game back of the final wild card spot, although they’ll need a lot of help to get there.
While the playoffs are highly unlikely, it will at least give the Titans something to chase over the final couple of weeks.
In order to notch a victory and keep their slim postseason hopes alive, the Titans are going to have to win three specific battles. Here are the key matchups to watch for Week 15.
RB Derrick Henry vs. Texans’ front seven
There is no denying that Titans running back Derrick Henry has been one of the most productive players of his era, and the Texans have felt every bit of that.
Listed below are the numbers Henry has produced over his last five matchups versus Houston, dating back to Dec. 29, 2019.
- 25 touches, 126 rushing yards, one touchdown
- 33 touches, 228 total yards (219 rushing), two touchdowns
- 34 touches, 250 rushing yards, two touchdowns
- 24 touches, 264 total yards (212 rushing), two touchdowns
- 32 touches, 211 rushing yards, three touchdowns
If you combine those numbers, you get a whopping 1,079 yards of total offense and 10 touchdowns in five matchups — that is honestly unfathomable when you really think about it.
This time around, he will face a formidable Texans defensive front seven that ranks eighth in the NFL in run defense (95.6 YPG). However, the unit won’t be at full strength, as the Texans won’t have defensive end Will Anderson or linebacker Blake Cashman.
The former Offensive Player of the Year is coming off a disappointing outing a week ago where he only averaged two yards per carry. He was able to find the end zone twice, though.
This could be the perfect opportunity for Henry to get back on track.
Henry is only 125 yards shy of recording another 1,000-yard season, and it would be fitting if he were to accomplish that feat against the team he’s historically had the most success against.
WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. CB Derek Stingley
This is a battle between someone who is arguably the greatest wide receiver in Texans history and someone who could end up being the greatest cornerback in Texans history.
DeAndre Hopkins has been phenomenal this year. He’s only 102 yards shy of recording his seventh career 1,000-yard season and the Clemson product also has an overall grade of 82.6 after recording 898 yards and six touchdowns on 57 catches, per Pro Football Focus.
Hopkins’ season took off once rookie quarterback Will Levis became the full-time starter. The two of them will need to have another strong outing on Sunday if the Titans want to beat the Texans.
Stingley will likely be tasked with trying to slow down the future Hall of Famer throughout the contest.
The second-year cornerback has had a great sophomore campaign. According to PFF, the former No. 3 overall pick has earned an overall grade of 77.4, allowing just 62 percent of his targets to be completed (15-of-24) while recording eight pass break-ups and four interceptions in the process.
Even more impressive is the fact that those numbers have come in just seven games after the LSU product missed a handful of contests this year due to a hamstring injury.
Whenever these two players line up across from one another, I highly suggest you shift your focus to this individual matchup, because whoever wins it will go a long way toward helping their team win the game.
OLB’s Harold Landry, Arden Key vs. OT’s Laremy Tunsil, Charlie Heck
The Titans’ tandem of Harold Landry and Arden Key is coming off a game in which they combined for four sacks, four tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits, most of which came from Landry.
The Boston College product had his best game of the year, accounting for three sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits, en route to earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
This week, they have relatively favorable matchups on the horizon.
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil is battling a knee injury, while right tackle George Fant is questionable after not practicing all week due to an issue with his hip. If Fant cannot go, Charlie Heck, who hasn’t taken a single offensive snap all year, is listed as next in line on the Texans’ depth chart.
To make matters worse for the Texans, they’ll likely be without their rookie phenom, C.J. Stroud, after the young quarterback suffered a concussion injury a week ago.
Instead, they’ll face a far-less mobile quarterback in Case Keenum, who could be a sitting duck for the Titans’ pass-rushers.
If Fant sits, both Landry and Key must find ways to take advantage of the plus matchup on the right side. A hobbled Tunsil is still a fantastic tackle, so it’s understandable if he continues to hold his own.
On the flip side, there is no excuse for either of the Titans’ edge rushers to not make their presence felt whenever they’re lined up against Heck. Landry and Key have combined for 13.5 sacks on the year, and if everything goes according to plan, that number should increase by the end of the weekend.
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