Texans Open As Home Favorites Over Titans

The Houston Texans are slight favorites for Sunday's matchup against the Tennessee Titans, their second game in three weeks.

After a lopsided loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, the Houston Texans are moving on as they continue their surprise playoff push.

With the Texans in a three-way tie atop the AFC South at 8-7, every game from here on out (all two of them) is essentially a must-win. First up is a New Year's Eve home game against the Tennessee Titans, the lone team out of the AFC South race at 5-10.

While the past few weeks haven't been especially kind to the Texans, as they've been ravaged by injuries while losing two of their past three games, oddsmakers like their chances to end 2023 on a high note. 

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Houston opened as a 3.5-point home favorite for Sunday's divisional showdown.

Texans vs. Titans :: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK

The NFL has a strange trend of scheduling divisional opponents to play twice in three weeks, and the Texans and Titans were two of the "lucky" recipients of that treatment this season. 

The two teams previously met in Nashville on Dec. 17, with the Titans attempting to rub salt in an old wound by wearing their Houston Oilers throwback uniforms. However, the Texans got the last laugh in a 19-16 overtime win, with veteran journeyman quarterback Case Keenum filling in for the injured C.J. Stroud.

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Speaking of injuries, the Texans are still dealing with a truckload of them heading into Sunday's game. Stroud is still in concussion protocol, while the status of other key players like defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and linebacker Blake Cashman are still up in the air after missing the Browns game. 

That's not to mention the players who suffered injuries in said game, like safety Jimmie Ward and defensive end Jonathan Greenard.

Sunday's game will kick off at 1 p.m. ET, with the Texans essentially needing a win to keep their playoff and division title hopes alive.