Six weeks ago, the Texans had just finished a three Prime Time game spree with a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys. The chance to win three in a row before the bye week in Week 14 was real and extremely appetizing for the Texans at point in the season.

Beat Dallas. Knock off Tennessee. Win in Jacksonville for the fifth year in a row. That’s a 3-game winning streak heading into the break. Boom. Done.

Well, it WOULD’VE been, I mean. The Titans were in no mood to cede to the Texans in Houston and pulled off a massive upset that shocked everyone in the building and around the NFL. Titans QB Will Levis launched bombs and hit on shot plays that he hadn’t hit before, or since. As a result, the Titans walked out with an improbable 32-27 win that shook the foundation of the Texans’ season in Week 12.

Since then? Well, the Titans have been the mess that I was hoping they should’ve been in Houston. They immediately gave up 42 points to Jayden Daniels and company the next week. The Colts had them down 38-7 before allowing garbage time TDs in the second half. Last week, the Titans couldn’t score in a loss to the Mac Jones-led Jaguars in Duval County.

So here comes Sunday’s contest, one that ALWAYS matters just a little bit more than the others. But the weird thing is the Titans really don’t want to win this game because of the impact it can have on their draft positioning. The Texans would love to win number ten on the season but regardless of the outcome, they’ll be the 4-seed and will play at home on Wild Card Weekend.

Yeah, weird dynamic in this one, to say the least, but the Texans haven’t had double digit win seasons often in their history.

In all but 2018, they advanced to the Divisional round playoff game, so let’s get win 10 and see if the trend holds. As such, let’s get to Know the Texans’ Week 18 Foe – the Tennessee Oil…errr, Titans.

2024 Tennessee Titans Schedule (3-13)

Week 1 – L @ Chicago Bears 24-17

Week 2 – L New York Jets 24-17

Week 3 – L Green Bay Packers 30-14

Week 4 – W @ Miami Dolphins 31-12

Week 6 – L Indianapolis Colts 20-17

Week 7 – L @ Buffalo Bills 34-10

Week 8 – L @ Detroit Lions 52-14

Week 9 – W New England Patriots 20-17 (OT)
Week 10 – L @ Los Angeles Chargers 27-17

Week 11 – L Minnesota Vikings 23-13

Week 12 – W @ Houston Texans 32-27

Week 13 – L @ Washington Commanders 42-19

Week 14 – L Jacksonville Jaguars 10-6

Week 15 – L Cincinnati Bengals 37-27

Week 16 – L @ Indianapolis Colts 38-30

Week 17 – L @ Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13

Titans OFFENSE (in 2024 regular season)

Rushing Yards Per game – 110.6 ypg (15th in the NFL)

Passing Yards Per game – 193.0 ypg (28th)

Total offense per game – 303.6 ypg (28th)

Turnovers lost – 33 (21 INT, 12 Fumbles lost)

Expected Titans starting offense for Week 18

QB – Will Levis and/or MASON RUDOLPH

RB – TONY POLLARD or Tyjae Spears or Julius Chestnut

WR – Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

C – Daniel Brunskill or Corey Levin

RG – Daniel Brunskill or Dillon Radunz

RT – Jaelyn Duncan or Nicholas Petit-Frere

Other Key Offensive pieces

TE – DAVID MARTIN-ROBINSON

ALL CAPS – New to team in 2024