The Tennessee Titans come off their bye in Week 11 to host the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, this Sunday.

Earlier this season, the Texans shut out the Titans 26-0, and the Titans would rather not have a repeat of that game. But they’ve lost four of their last five games, fired their head coach, and lost several players to injury. A few have returned to the field, but some remain questionable.

The Texans have won three of their last five games and are hoping to make a playoff appearance in 2025. A win against the Titans helps them immensely, so they are motivated to make it happen.

Let’s take a look at six things the Titans must do to win on Sunday.

Establish the run

With Tyjae Spears back on the field and Tony Pollard healthy, the Titans must establish the run early. Last week, they averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but abandoned the run early in the game, and it was detrimental to the outcome. If they can establish a balanced ground attack, the Titans can control the tempo of the game and keep Houston’s pass rush honest.

Neutralize Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter

In their last meeting, Anderson and Hunter wreaked havoc on the Titans’ offensive line. J.C. Latham and Dan Moore Jr. must hold up in pass protection, or Cam Ward isn’t going to have time to operate. Mike McCoy has to use his tight ends and running backs to chip in and help solidify Ward’s protection. If not, it’s going to be a very long game for the rookie quarterback.

Defensive disguises/win in trenches

C.J. Stroud remains in concussion protocol, leaving backup quarterback Davis Mills to start under center. Last week, he threw for 292 yards. The Titans can’t afford to allow him to do that again, so Dennard Wilson needs to mix coverages and pressure looks to force mistakes from Mills.

The defense must also win in the trenches because Woody Marks and Nick Chubb both have breakout run capability. Jeffery Simmons and Arden Key remain questionable for Sunday’s game, so other guys have to step up if they can’t go. Tennessee must control the gaps and force Houston into third-and-long situations.

Feed the rookie wide receivers

Houston’s secondary is vulnerable to explosive plays, which will be even more of an issue for the Texans if the Titans can establish play-action. Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike have emerged as Ward’s top targets, so even if Calvin Ridley is back on the field this week, the Titans should focus on feeding the rookie receivers. Let’s see what they can do when the leash is loosened.

Start fast, stay close

In their Week 4 meeting, the Texans scored 20 of their 26 points in the fourth quarter. The Titans must start fast and keep the game close, forcing Houston to play from behind. Houston’s defense is elite overall, but it ranks 20th in red-zone touchdown rate. So, if the Titans can sustain drives, which we all know is debatable, they must finish with touchdowns, not field goals.

NO TURNOVERS!

Cam Ward had his first career game without a turnover in the Titans’ 27-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite not scoring a single offensive touchdown, the Titans kept the game close by not turning the ball over. They’ll need to repeat that against a Texans’ defense that thrives on pressure and takeaways. Ball security is paramount this week.