Titans Go Running In

The Tennessee Titans officially secured a playoff spot in Week 17, as they defeated the AFC South champion Houston Texans, 35-14. The Titans were the best team on the field, and we can say that with confidence since the Texans made the decision to sit most of their starters. 

Bill O’Brien said earlier in the week that he would play his starters against the Titans, but after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, he changed his tune. A.J. McCarron started at quarterback for the Texans, and he actually put together a pretty impressive performance. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 225 yards and one interception, and also rushed five times for 39 yards and a touchdown. He engineered a couple of impressive drives — including in the first quarter, when McCarron helped Houston score its first touchdown on an opening drive all season. 

The Titans’ offense was unstoppable for most of the game, and Ryan Tannehill and Co. racked up 467 yards of total offense. Whether attacking through the air or on the ground, Tennessee was effective. Derrick Henry’s 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns made him the regular-season rushing champ, as he passed Christian McCaffrey of the Carolina Panthers and Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns. 

Both teams now turn their attention to the playoffs, as both will play next week. 

At times this season, it was clear that the Titans had a dynamic trio on offense. They didn’t always show up week to week, but when they did, the Titans appeared to have one of the best offensive attacks in the NFL. Tannehill completed 13 of 20 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns and was extremely accurate on Sunday. He was putting the ball only where his wideouts could get it and he was efficient when it came to moving the chains. If the Titans were forced to punt at any point during the game, it was usually because Tannehill’s wideouts let him down, not the other way around. 

After taking last week off to rest his hamstring, Henry was absolutely dominant. He rushed 32 times for 211 yards and three touchdowns, and he looks ready to make a statement in the postseason. He’s been great this year, and he ends the regular season with more rushing yards than any other player. Rookie wide receiver A.J. Brown put up a career-high eight catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in Week 15 against the Texans, and he again had this way with Houston’s secondary on Sunday. He caught four passes for 124 yards and a touchdown, and he was explosive from the Titans’ very first possession. When these three players are at their best, there’s no doubt that the Titans can compete with teams like the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens. Tennessee will need them to step up again in the postseason.