The Tennessee Titans (1-9) played hard and were in it until the final snap, but in the end didn’t have enough to pull out a victory against the Houston Texans (5-5) in Week 11 action. 

The Titans overcame many obstacles and entered the final seconds tied at 13 before their hopes came crashing down when Matthew Wright connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 16-13 victory. 

Unfortunately, Tennessee could not overcome their lack of discipline with too many unforced penalties plaguing the offense. JC Latham alone had three false start penalties, and that was a theme that continued to haunt the unit all afternoon. The Titans’ defense was strong and held the Texans in check, but the offense continued to struggle until their final drive, when Cam Ward hit Van Jefferson for a game-tying touchdown. 

Final Score: Texans 16 – Titans 13Q1Q2Q3Q4FinalTitans303713Texans0010616Keys to the GameRushing woes continue: The Titans’ rushing attack again struggled to get anything going on the ground, generating only 58 yards rushing, and the majority of those yards came from Ward, who led the team with 33 yards on three attempts. Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard combined for 25 yards on 14 carries, nowhere near good enough against a quality Texans defense. Penalties: Once again, the Titans struggled with penalties against the Texans, with nine accepted penalties for 62 yards. But more than the yardage, it was when these penalties happened and what type that must be addressed. No answer for Nico: The Titans’ defense played one of its best games of the season, but in the end, they had no answer for Nico Collins and the Texans’ receiving corps. As time was winding down in the fourth quarter, Davis Mills hit Collins on a critical third-down conversion. Collins finished with nine catches for 92 yards and one touchdown.It was over when…

Former Titans kicker Matthew Wright connected on his third field goal of the game as time expired to dash the Titans’ comeback hopes.

Players of the GameOLB Arden Key: Key returned to the field for the first time since missing multiple games with a quad injury and was the catalyst for a strong defensive effort. Key finished with three total tackles (two solo) and 1.5 sacks, and played like a man on a mission. CB Marcus Harris: Harris has quietly stepped into the nickel back role that opened when the team traded Roger McCreary. He had another solid outing, recording four total tackles (two solo) and one pass defensed. LB Cedric Gray: Gray was back to his playmaking self and was all over the field against the Texans. The second-year linebacker recorded 11 total tackles (six solo) and appears to be a foundational piece the team can build around on defense. Injuries

The Titans finished the game thin at wide receiver after losing both Calvin Ridley and Chimere Dike during the game. Ridley suffered a lower-body injury on the first offensive play and did not return. He was ruled out for the second half. Dike was also lost for the second half. The rookie wide receiver entered concussion protocol after being rocked on a muffed punt.

What’s next?

Interim head coach Mike McCoy will meet with reporters on Monday afternoon to wrap up the week and set the stage for Week 12. Select players will be made available after McCoy.

Tennessee will return to practice on Wednesday ahead of a Week 12 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 23, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is 12:00 p.m. CST.