OVERALL
After coming close to upsetting the Cowboys and Chiefs in their last two games, the Texans went to Tennessee to play the Titans, who were desperate to end a four-game losing streak and remain in first place in the AFC South. They couldn’t pull it off.
The third time was the charm for the Texans, who ended a nine-game losing streak with a 19-14 victory at Nissan Stadium, where the game was delayed an hour because of a rolling blackout to combat the 20-degree temperature at kickoff – the coldest home game in Titans history.
Grade: A
Quarterbacks
Pep Hamilton continued with his Davis Mills-Jeff Driskel platoon with mixed results. With the game on the line, Hamilton stuck with Mills, who had been horrendous in the third quarter. On two scoring drives in the fourth quarter, Mills was 9-of-9 for 103 yards and a game-winning, 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks. Mills finished with 17-of-28 for 178 yards with one touchdown, one interception, one sack and a 76.2 rating. Driskel was 3-of-4 for 40 yards, ran twice for 2 yards and caught a 4-yard pass.
Grade: B
Running backs
Working against the NFL’s second-best run defense that entered the game allowing 80.8 yards a game, the Texans ran for 70 yards. Four players carried the ball. In his first start since 2018, his rookie year with the Broncos, Royce Freeman carried 16 times for 32 yards.
Dare Ogunbowale added 28 yards on eight carries. Rex Burkhead’s best play came in the first quarter when he alertly fell on Davis Mills’ fumble into the end zone for the Texans’ first touchdown.
Grade: C
Wide receivers
The receivers produced in the clutch on two scoring drives in the fourth quarter that brought the Texans from behind. Brandin Cooks returned to the lineup to make four catches for 34 yards, including a 6-yard, game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Amari Rodgers had a clutch, 37-yard catch on the winning drive. Phillip Dorsett had three receptions for a team-best 45 yards. Chris Moore caught two passes for 25 yards.
Grade: B
Tight ends
Jordan Akins caught three passes for 39 yards and Brevin Jordan two for 21. Teagan Quitoriano got hurt early and was unable to contribute. The quarterbacks didn’t utilize the tight ends very much.
Grade: C
Offensive line
Despite a revolving door at left guard because of injuries, the linemen didn’t allow a sack for the fourth consecutive game. Davis Mills was sacked once when he held the ball for too long, but that wasn’t on the linemen. Mills had plenty of time to throw on his only interception.
Left guard Kenyon Green didn’t suit up because of an injury. Tytus Howard replaced him and left with a concussion. Then Jimmy Morrissey, a center, replaced Howard and also left with a concussion. Justin McCray finished. Unlike the first game, the linemen didn’t allow tackle Jeffrey Simmons to dominate.
Grade: B
Defensive line
The linemen combined for eight tackles for loss. They got after quarterback Malik Willis. Ogbo Okoronkwo had two sacks. Jonathan Greenard recovered a Derrick Henry fumble to ignite a scoring drive. The linemen helped limit Derrick Henry to 126 yards after he bombarded them with four consecutive 200-yard games. Subtract his 48-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and Henry generated only 78 yards on his other 22 carries.
Grade: A
Linebackers
Blake Cashman had a sack. Jake Hansen forced a Derrick Henry fumble. Christian Harris intercepted Malik Willis in the Titans’ fourth-quarter comeback. Harris and Christian Kirksey contributed six tackles each.
The linebackers played the run well except for Henry’s 48-yard touchdown in the first quarter. They did a nice job in coverage, too.
Grade: A-minus
Secondary
Jalen Pitre led the team with nine tackles. He intercepted Malik Willis’ Hail Mary pass on the last play. Jonathan Owens contributed a sack.
The defensive backs missed some tackles but, overall, they played the run well. They did a terrific job in coverage.
Grade: A-minus
Special teams
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked two short field goals, giving him 17 in a row. Cam Johnston’s punt that was downed at the Titans’ 4 with 1:23 remaining left them too deep in their territory to pull out a victory. He punted five times for a 44.2-yard gross and a 41-yard net. Desmond King II averaged 8.2 yards on punt returns. Kickoff returns averaged 25.5 yards. Coverage was solid.
Grade: A-minus
Coaching
Lovie Smith, Pep Hamilton, Frank Ross and the position coaches deserve a lot of credit for getting their players to play hard and well over the last three games, culminating in Sunday’s upset of the Titans. A job well-done by a staff determined to win their last three games against AFC South opponents. The way they have the Texans playing lately, they just might pull it off.
Grade: A
John McClain can be heard Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on Sports Radio 610 and Monday and Thursday on Texans Radio. He writes three times a week and does three Houtopia Podcasts a week for SportsRadio610. He also can be read four times a week on GallerySports.com.