Bijani: Observations and game-changing plays from Texans' thrilling, gutsy 19-16 OT victory over Titans

(SportsRadio 610) - After helping orchestrate what should be dubbed the "Music City Miracle 2.0" in a gutsy 19-16 overtime victory on the road against the Tennessee Titans, Texans quarterback Case Keenum said that he was merely "built" for moments like those.

“I'm built for this,” Keenum said. “I've been in a lot of situations. I've been in a lot of systems, been in a lot of different games. And God's made me who I am for this, for moments like this.”

The architect of the "Minneapolis Miracle" in 2018, when he connected with Stefon Diggs on a 61-yard touchdown that gave the Minnesota Vikings a 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints in an NFC Divisional round playoff game in 2017.

While Sunday might not have been an official playoff game, the Texans have been playing with that kind of mentality for a month and Keenum might’ve helped save their season with more late game heroics.

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Below is a breakdown of some of the most impactful, game-changing plays from another improbable, gutsy, thrilling Texans victory.

7:09 1st quarter: Following a Will Levis touchdown run, capping an 11-play 83-yard drive, kicker Nick Folk missed the extra-point attempt.

13:56 2nd quarter: After a shaky start for the Texans on their first two offensive possessions, which both ended in punts, Keenum found Noah Brown down the field on a third-and-10 for a 20-yard gain.

That play loomed large at the time, given what the Texans' success rate had been this season on drives in which they’d hit on plays that went for 20 yards or more. On 24 of the Texans' 30 touchdown drives this season, they’d connected on a chunk-play.

Unfortunately, moments later Keenum was intercepted by Titans cornerback Elijah Molden. Keenum and running back Dare Ogunbowale must’ve had a communication break down, with Keenum thinking Ogunbowale was supposed to sit down in the route.

That gave the Titans a 13-0 lead with 13:56 remaining in the first half. There’s never really a good time to throw a pick-six, but it being so early certainly helped quell the temptation, a little, to keep from throwing my television remote.

6:28 2nd quarter: Set up by Texans punter Cameron Johnston pinning the Titans deep in their own territory, at their own six-yard line, Willis Levis was sacked by defensive tackle Khalil Davis on third-and-seven.

Taking a nine-yard loss on the play, the Texans got great field position for the first time all game, beginning a pivotal drive at their own 43-yard line. The Texans held the ball for the final 5:38 of the half, capping a 13-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal to make it a 13-3 Titans lead at the break.

12:24 3rd quarter: The Texans had steal a possession and capitalize to try and neutralize the pick-six allowed in the first half. Nelson came up with a massive play to start the third quarter, making Levis pay for forcing the ball to DeAndre Hopkins.

It was Nelson’s first interception in eight weeks. It felt like it was only a matter of time, as in recent weeks Nelson has made some nice plays around the ball, deflecting four passes in the previous three games. He had two more on Sunday.

While it didn’t lead to a touchdown, the Texans did capitalize with points in the ensuing offensive possession, cutting into the Titans' lead with a 27-yard field goal to make it a 13-6 ballgame.

5:43 3rd quarter: After neglecting DeAndre Hopkins for an entire half of football, Will Levis targeted Hopkins nine times in the second half.

Jalen Pitre was beat in coverage. Badly. But he closed in on Hopkins and did all that he could to make surviving the ground as difficult as possible.

After a successful challenge, the play was reversed, setting up a third-and-17, in which Jonathan Greenard and Maliek Collins both got to Levis on the play, sacking him for a nine-yard loss, forcing the Titans to punt.

2:42 3rd quarter: The Texans, playing complimentary football, capitalized once again on a good defensive stand. Despite being hurt by a ticky-tack offsides call on Noah Brown on a third-and-four, the Texans settled for a 53-yards field goal attempt.

Every point matters, right? While the Texans were growing tired of having to settle for chip-shot field goals on their previous two possessions, a 53-yard attempt was nothing to sneeze at.

However, nailing this one as it was looking like the Texans just weren’t going to ever find their way into the end zone Sunday, had to give them all of the confidence in the world when they sent him out later in overtime to win it from 54 yards.

:54 seconds left in 3rd quarter: With the Titans driving and facing a second-and-eight from the 50-yard line, Sheldon Rankins stuffed running back Derrick Henry at the line of scrimmage, forcing Levis and the Titans into a passing situation on third-and-eight.

Derek Stingley Jr. broke up a pass intended for Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, forcing another Titans punt, allowing the Texans to keep the game manageable, trailing 13-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

9:07 4th quarter: After the Texans got backed up to their own three-yard line on their previous offensive possession, a weak 40-yard punt by Johnston gave the Titans a short field. They were barreling down in the red zone looking to score until Jonathan Greenard struck. Again.

Greenard made easy work of the Titans left tackle, rookie sixth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan, simply beating him off the edge to get a hand on the ball before Levis motioned forward.

After a 19-yard loss on the play, moments later the Titans were forced to settle for a 45-yard field goal, which increased their lead to 16-9 with 7:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.

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4:51 4th quarter: Dalton Schultz helped Keenum save the day in the fourth quarter. In the midst of the most important drive of the game, on a second-and-10, with less than five minutes remaining and trailing the Titans 16-9, Keenum evading pressure, rolled left and threw a desperation pass down the field to tight end Dalton Schultz that looked like a sure-fire interception.

In a millisecond, it was almost as if Schultz told himself that, if he wasn’t going to come down with the ball, nobody was. Returning from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss the previous two weeks, Schultz made one of the biggest plays of year, securing a 15-yard, desperation throw from Keenum.

Moments later, facing a third-and-goal, Keenum, fearlessly stepped up in the pocket and delivered a three-yard dart to Noah Brown for his first touchdown pass since he quarterbacked the Cleveland Browns in their regular season finale in 2022.

Now, a 16-16 game after the extra-point with 3:03 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Texans had somehow manifested a brand new ballgame out of a seemingly calamitous situation heading into the game.

“He’s ready for the moment,” Ryans said. “He let our guys know he was ready for the moment, and he showed up and made big time plays for us.”

Just proud to be able to wear ‘Houston’ across his chest again, Keenum, humbly acknowledged his unwavering belief in his teammates, particularly those that share the quarterback room with him, saying after the win that Sunday was a ‘game for both of those cats (Stroud and Mills).’

That’s why Keenum is respected to the level he is and with CJ Stroud out, that’s why Sunday’s game was meant for nobody else but him.

“It’s very special and what a gritty way to get it done,” Keenum said.

With 55-seconds remaining in regulation, the Texans were forced to punt. Back up linebacker and special-teamer Jake Hansen hit Titans return man Mason Kinsey near the sideline. Kinsey wasn’t totally out of bounds yet, but Hansen hit him and the raucous it caused on the Titans sideline certainly felt like it was going to be something that cost the Texans.

It somehow did not. While a close call, those are the kind of no-calls the Texans aren’t necessary used to getting. It would’ve resulted in far better field position if a 15-yard penalty was enforced.

8:00 OT: After former Texans receiver Chris Moore literally ‘Mossed’ nickel cornerback Desmond King on a tremendous 23-yard catch on a third-and-10 near the Titans sideline, Maliek Collins, Derek Barnett and Steven Nelson responded for the Texans.

Collins split two Titans offensive linemen and met Titans running back Derrick Henry in the backfield field for a three-yard tackle for loss. On the next play, Derek Barnett whooped rookie right tackle Jaelyn Duncan’s ass again, bull-rushing him right into Levis for the sack.

Then, Nelson, on a third-and-20, keeping a great cushion on DeAndre Hopkins as to not get beat deep, played the ball almost perfectly, just getting a hand on the ball intended for the former Texan receiver to force the Titans into another punt.

2:00 OT: Facing a pivotal third-and-eight with time running short and approaching Texans territory, Willis Levis miraculously survived a gruesome-looking play in which nickel cornerback Desmond King sacked him and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins landed on top of the quarterback simultaneously, contorting his body backwards with his right-leg trapped and entangled underneath.

The Titans punted the ball away.

Levis, somehow walked away, said he was OK after the game, adding that, “It could’ve been a lot worse,” when addressing the media during his postgame press conference.

1:43 OT: Keenum, scrambling out to his right, found Singletary on an extended route. It almost looked designed that way, it worked so well as it yielded 41-yards on the play.

It was the cap on an absolutely necessary day for Singletary, who not only ran for 121 yards on 26 attempts, but caught four passes for 49 yards.

Singletary has rushed for over 100 yards from scrimmage in three of his last six games and has solidified himself as the number one back, without question heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.

:02 OT: He should garner strong consideration for the AFC Player of the Week. After missing five games with a quad injury, Fairbairn returned to make all four of his field goal attempts from 23, 27, 53 including the game winner in overtime from 54 yards. On the road.

Welcome back.

Thank you.

Laremy Tunsil got banged up in the game Sunday, had to be evaluated in the medical tent and came back after missing a series.

He was a difference maker in the run game, helping pace the way for one of the Texans best games on the ground this season. He’s been a tough sucker all season, playing through a knee injury and one of the lone guys on an offensive line that has seen seven different starting lineups.