The Tennessee Titans are facing a must-win situation going into a Week 16 game against the Houston Texans, a team head coach Mike Vrabel’s squad normally dominates.
However, things will be more difficult than normal for Tennessee, a team that is without its starting quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, who may very well be out for the season, also.
The good news is, the Titans have already beaten the Texans with Malik Willis under center this season after topping Houston 17-10 in Week 8.
But this game is far from a gimme for multiple reasons.
The Titans remain very banged-up, are playing poorly overall, and the Texans have been playing their best football of late, giving both the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys a run for their money the past two weeks.
Despite the injury to Tannehill, sportsbooks still have the Titans favored. Let’s see who experts are picking to win this game on Saturday.
USA TODAY
USA TODAY’s Week 16 picks:
Jarrett Bell: Titans (26-17)
Chris Bumbaca: Titans (28-3)
Nate Davis: Titans (17-12)
Safid Deen: Titans (30-16)
Tyler Dragon: Titans (24-16)
Lorenzo Reyes: Titans (24-23)
ESPN
ESPN’s Week 16 picks
Stephania Bell: No pick
Matt Bowen: Titans
Mike Clay: Titans
Jeremy Fowler: No pick
Dominique Foxworth: No pick
Dan Graziano: Texans
Jason Reid: No pick
Laura Rutledge: Titans
Sam Wickersham: Titans
CBS Sports
CBS Sports’ Week 16 picks:
Pete Prisco: Titans 23, Texans 21 – “The Titans are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs if they don’t turn things around. The Texans have played much better in recent weeks, but this will be a challenge against a team that badly needs it. The Titans will right things here with a big showing by Derrick Henry.”
Jason La Canfora: Titans
Will Brinson: Titans
Jared Dubin: Titans
Ryan Wilson: Titans
John Breech: Titans
Dave Richard: Titans
Jamey Eisenberg: Titans
MMQB
MMQB’s Week 16 picks:
Albert Breer: Titans
Mitch Goldich: Titans
Gary Gramling: Texans
Conor Orr: Titans
John Pluym: Titans
Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report’s Week 16 picks:
Gary Davenport: Texans
Greg Ivory: Titans
Kris Knox: Texans
Maurice Moton: Titans
Wes O’Donnell: Titans
Brent Sobleski: Texans
Score Prediction: Titans 20, Texans 14
Sporting News
Bill Bender: Titans 24, Texans 19 – “The Titans need this one at home, and they need to get the offense going. Tennessee has averaged just 15.5 points per game in its last four losses, and they have five turnovers the last two weeks. Houston, which showed fight against Kansas City, has forced seven turnovers the last three weeks. Can Tennessee play a clean game?
Vinnie Iyer: Titans 20, Texans 14 – “The Titans are working through some kinks offensively with little pop in the passing game, now back to being operated by rookie Malik Willis, who handled this matchup the first time. But the one constant source of production, Derrick Henry hasn’t let them down with his power running and underrated receiving. The Texans are scrapping and fighting, but will get work down in a physical division game.”
NFL.com
Gregg Rosenthal: Texans 20, Titans 19 – “Ryan Tannehill is out with an ankle injury. Even if the Titans’ QB1 were active, though, this would’ve been a dangerous game for Tennessee, considering how Houston has competed the last two weeks. Not to mention, the 2021 Titans, who wound up nabbing the AFC’s No. 1 seed, suffered a home loss to the Texans. Malik Willis looked better in a tiny sample size last week and he did start Tennessee’s defense-dominated win over Houston in Week 8, yet I can’t shake the feeling the Texans are playing better football over the last month.”
ProFootballTalk
Pro Football Talk’s Week 16 picks
Michael David Smith: Titans 17, Texans 10 – “The Titans are slouching toward the AFC South title and will win an ugly game over the worst team in the league.”
Mike Florio: Titans 20, Texans 16 – “The Texans have been playing well lately, but the Titans should be sufficiently desperate to find a way to get a long-overdue win against a one-win team.”
Overall expert tally
Titans: 29
Texans: 6
