Game Preview: Titans Head to Houston in Week Four to Start Divisional Play
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have not picked up a victory over the Houston Texans since week 17 of the 2013 season, and second year quarterback Marcus Mariota has yet to see the field against his AFC South rival.
Mariota will change just that in week four when the Titans (1-2) head to NRG Stadium in Houston for their first divisional game of 2016. Tennessee looks to bounce back from a 17-10 loss to the Oakland Raiders at Nissan Stadium. The Texans (2-1) too are coming off a loss, as they were shutout 27-0 in New England last Thursday.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Mariota Wednesday on taking on Houston for the first time in his career. "It's an opportunity for us to go out there and face a division opponent and build some momentum towards the season. So I'm definitely looking forward to it."
Houston will be without their most dynamic player, as All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt was placed on injured reserve Wednesday after re aggravating a back injury in Thursday's loss to the Patriots.
"Absolutely no change is going to be made to the game plan. The game plan was already in place and nothing will change based on the injury," added Titans head coach Mike Mularkey on Wednesday after learning of Watt's inactive status for Sunday.
“(Watt) is a great player. You hate to see really any player get hurt. That's unfortunate. I mean, I don't like to see that, just like it was when Teddy (Bridgewater) was injured in Minnesota. You really don't want to see anybody be hurt and not have a chance to compete.”
For Tennessee, the absence of Watt should allow for more freedom in the pocket, as well as better opportunities to run the football.
Running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown against Oakland, ending a streak of 34-consecutive games in which Tennessee had gone without a 100-yard rusher.
In two meetings last season, Titans' quarterback Zach Mettenberger was sacked 8 times. Mettenberger, who was released in the offseason, started four games for the Titans in 2015 after Mariota suffered a sprained MCL on two occasions.
For the second consecutive week, Tennessee's secondary will be put to task as they will be paired up with a duo of dominant receivers. Tennessee allowed Oakland's Michael Crabtree to record over 100 yards in week three, and now the Titans must stop both DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller.
Hopkins recorded 117 yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions in Houston's 34-6 win over the Titans in week 16 last season. In three games this year, Hopkins has 223 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Fuller, whom the Texans selected 21st overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, has 242 yards and a touchdown in his first three games. Fuller joined DeSean Jackson as the only rookie receivers to record back-to-back 100 yard games.
Both Hopkins and Fuller will have to rely on quarterback Brock Osweiler, who signed a $72 million deal with Houston this offseason after splitting time with Peyton Manning in route to a Super Bowl 50 victory with Denver in 2015.
Houston will have a new offensive play-caller in week four, as head coach Bill O’Brien will take over duties after demoting offensive coordinator George Godsey.
Osweiler will give the Tennessee secondary a chance to create turnovers, as the fifth year quarterback has thrown 4 interceptions to just 3 touchdowns in his first season with his new team. However, Tennessee will have to make adjustments in the secondary as safety Da’Norris Searcy (ankle) has been ruled out two weeks, meaning Daimion Stafford will likely get the start in his place.
The Tennessee defense has produced just two turnovers through three games. Cornerback Perrish Cox intercepted Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford in the final seconds of Tennessee's week two victory, and then linebacker Avery Williamson intercepted Oakland’s Derrick Carr in the third quarter this past week.
Turnover margin is something the Titans will desperately need to fix. Through three games, Tennessee holds a turnover margin of -5, which ranks at No. 29 in the NFL.
Mariota has been the biggest offender when it comes to turnovers, as he has thrown an interception in each game this season (four total), and has also fumbled twice. Mariota turned the ball over three times in the week three loss.
Mariota has not shied away from questions regarding his high number of turnovers, taking responsible for his mistakes.
"If I do a better job taking care of the football, that's going to put our team in a better position."
"It's more me trying to do too much and trying to force a throw when I shouldn't."
A number of familiar faces will make their return to Houston in week four. Wide receiver Andre Johnson played 12 seasons with the Texans. Johnson returned to Houston last season as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, catching 2 touchdowns while totaling 77 yards. Center Ben Jones will be making his first trip back to Houston, as he signed with Tennessee in the offseason after spending his first four seasons with the Texans.
Johnson was flagged late in the game against Oakland this past Sunday for offensive pass interference, a questionable call that has drawn scrutiny this past week, negating a potential game tying touchdown.
"Now a days you don't know when a flag is going to be thrown," added Johnson when asked if he was surprised to see a flag thrown on his potential game tying catch. "It happens, so, the (referee) called it. It is what it is."
Tennessee marched the length of the field in the final two-minutes Sunday before turning the ball over on downs. The drive got as far as the 4-yard line, but was pushed back 15-yards on a personal foul by Taylor Lewan for a late hit.
After rookie Tajae Sharpe was brought down at the 4-yard line after collecting 19-yards on a catch-and-run, a number of Oakland defenders began piling on Sharpe at the conclusion of the play. Lewan and center Jones rushed in and dove at the Oakland players, attempting to break up the scrum. Only Lewan was penalized.
"I really have no idea why (the officials) called it," said Lewan of the penalty on Monday. "I saw the receiver up, trying to struggle to get more yards. A bunch of Raiders were jumping on him, and I was just trying to help my teammate. It obviously hurt more than anything else."
“They're in mid-flight when the whistle blows, so there's no way you can control it. (If) they're trying to be protective of the players, then they ought to blow the whistle earlier,” added Mularkey on the call, stating that both Lewan and Jones had already begun their act of hitting the Oakland players before the officials signaled the play dead.
Lewan was rated as the best left tackle in the NFL during week three by Pro Football Focus, finishing with a grade of 90.7. Murray also was rated highest at his position, as his 114 yards and touchdown locked him a rating of 88.4.
The Titans should have a number of key players return to the field on Sunday. Receiver Kendall Wright (hamstring) is expected to play and make his season debut. Wright has been sidelined since training camp. Tight end Delanie Walker (hamstring) is listed as a game time decision, and could potentially miss his second consecutive game.
Linebacker Brian Cushing (knee) returned to practice on Wednesday for Houston after suffering an injury back in week one. Cushing is expected to play Sunday. Rookie receiver Braxton Miller (hamstring) is questionable after not practicing both Wednesday and Thursday.
Game Day Information
Game Time: Sunday October 2, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. (CT)
TV: CBS
Broadcasters: Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta
Referee: Clete Blakeman
Game Line*: Houston -4.5
*As of Friday September 30
All information provided via www.titansonline.com, Pro Football Focus, and espn.com. Stats provided via www.pro-football-reference.com.
