The Day After the Day After…when the raw, immediate emotions from the aftermath of a game diminish into the realm of clarity and the proverbial (or literal) hangover no longer haunts the mind. With that, a review of Week 5
Much needed win? Yes. Season saved? Too early to call…: You didn’t need advanced analytics to tell you that Houston was in a must-win situation. The odds at 0-4 are bad enough. 0-5…well, that would be uncharted territory. If it was the lowly Titans that effectively ended the dreams
of a supposed contender barely a quarter of the way into a season, few outcomes could be more painful. Fortunately for Houston, they did what they had to, leaving Nashville with a resounding 26-3 victory. For one game, the team played defense like they envisioned coming into the season, holding the Titans to under 190 yards total offense, forcing 2 turnovers and allowing only 3 points. Yes, last season’s run was spurred by a 26-0 blasting of these same Titans. However, the circumstances are much different. Houston is now 1-4 vs. 1-3, and last season, two of those 2025 losses were to NFC teams. This season, 3 losses are to AFC squads. Also, three of the 2026 losses were at home. Last season, only one home loss in that 0-3 start. Tiebreakers helped Houston last year. They may hurt it this year.
The running game is not alright: While Houston had a relatively stress-free win, there are still some significant issues. In particular, the running game is not even close to working on a majority of cylinders. The Titans do have some strength on the defensive interior, but for a “get right” game, the running game could not take advantage. This is the 4th straight game that Houston finished with less than 80 total yards rushing. The offseason offensive star acquisition David Montgomery only musted 11 yards on 5 carries before leaving the game with a groin injury, leaving his status as day-to-day. Marks at least managed over 4 yards a carry but only checked in with 62 rushing yards. For all the investments in the offensive line and running game, the Texans are not getting anywhere close to a good ROI. The subsequent trade for Marvin Harrison Jr post-game seems to indicate that Houston will lean into its passing game. If the defense could respond to its expected standard, that might win games. However, with a finishing stretch in December/January where Houston has to play at Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Green Bay, the lack of running game in inclement weather will prove a significant liability.
Revenge Game for Tommy Townsend? Perhaps not: This offseason, Houston decided not to renew the contract for Tommy Townsend, who punted for the Texans for two seasons. Townsend, a Super Bowl winning punter from Kansas City, moved on to the Titans. Certainly, he might have enjoyed outkicking Kroeger in this matchup. While Townsend’s numbers were ok for a punter (4 punts/47.0 average/1 punt inside the 20), he didn’t exactly make Houston feel sorry that they moved on. Kai Kroeger’s line: 2 punts/37.5 average/2 punts inside the 20. Helps that Houston didn’t really need to call on Kroeger all that much, but on this day, Houston is likely happy that it saved some money on its punting.
THE CRITICAL PLAY:
- 1st Qtr (8:24) TEN Ball at the TEN 14, 2nd and 9, Cam Ward incomplete pass deep left to Kylen Granson.
On the opening drive, the Titans drove the ball into the Texans’ red zone, but the Houston defense stiffened, forcing a FG. On the subsequent drive, after forcing a Houston punt, the Titans looked to continue that momentum. On the second play of the drive, Ward dropped back and saw an open TE, Kylen Granson, deep left, with S Blankenship on the coverage. Ward was under some pressure, but he did have time to find the open man. The throw was just off the fingertips of the Titans’ TE. If he completes the pass, the Titans move up the field by about 20 yards. For a Houston defense that is among the league leaders in allowing explosive plays, this was a bad miss for the Titans. The Texans shut down the Titans on the subsequent 3rd Down, forcing a punt. Houston would score a tying FG on the next drive, and on the Titans’ next possession, Houston forced the first of two turnovers. Two drives after that missed completion, Houston is up 6-3, and the Titans would be unable to put additional pressure on the Texans’ defense the rest of the game. That incompletion was as much about momentum for the Texans and Titans.
FUN WITH NUMBERS:
3: Most of Will Anderson Jr’s stats:Sunday’s game for Will Anderson was brought to you by the number 3. He had 3 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 3 TFLs and 3 QB hits. He was credited with 4 total tackles, and if you divide his jersey number (51) by 17, you get the number 3. What that last data point has to do with anything? Eh, why not?
8.4/77.6: Average penalties/yards penalized per game by Houston: Sunday saw Houston commit 11 penalties for 95 yards. In the past two games, those numbers are 12/92.5. Didn’t hurt them this game, but those numbers go a long way towards explaining that now 1-4 start.
GAME BALLS:
QB CJ Stroud: With the aforementioned struggles with the running game, this offense is going as far as Stroud’s arm will take it. 26 of 34 for 261 yards and TD, while only taking 2 sacks and his 4th straight game sans a turnover will help that immensely. Only 5 yards rushing on 6 scrambles, but no one is perfect.
LB Jake Hansen:With To’oTo’o still out and Al-Shaair just returning to the lineup, Hansen has been pressed into service to cover the LB2 spot. In this game, he did his part, with 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 TFL and 2 PDs. He did snag an INT, setting up a FG. While it was all due to the defensive line (thank you Danielle Hunter), Hansen was the right man at the right time.
DEs Will Anderson/Danielle Hunter: 6 combined tackles, 4 combined sacks, 5 QB hits/pressures, forced an INT. That also helps out a defense.
SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN TO THE DRUNKEST BACHELORETTE PARTY DOING KARAYOKE ON MUSIC ROW ON REPEAT WHILE CLEANING UP SAID BARS IN THE HOURS AFTER LAST CALL:
Titans Owner Amy Adams Strunk: Has it occurred to the Titans that maybe the whole “trying to troll the current Houston franchise by wearing the Columbia Blue” for their matchups in Nashville is just not working? 0-4 since 2023 when facing the Texans at home. Yes, they’ve incorporated the color into their everyday uniforms starting this season, but even ol’ K.S. Adams would’ve considered changing something here.
Houston Texans’ run blocking. They can’t generate holes for running, and when the Texans do finally get a decent run play (aka Marks’ 24-yard run negated by a Brevin Jordan hold…and a needless one at that), they commit dumb penalties.
Toro and the Terrible Towel: Bad Toro! Bad Toro! Steelers might not be what they once were, but those cursed towels…mess with them, they will mess back. 0-8 combined since tearing up said towel…sheesh.
Houston is back in the win column, now sitting at 1-4. They will embark on their 3rd ever overseas trip to play the London Jacksonville Jaguars. Kickoff is at 8:30 a.m. CDT and broadcasting on the NFL Network. Set your alarms and see you there.
