Titans Fall Flat On the Road Again, Get Embarrassed By Texans, 26-3

The Tennessee Titans played their last road game on Sunday, and it was much like all the rest of them. They were blown out by the Houston Texans 26-3 on Sunday and fell to 5-11 on the season.

HOUSTON, Texas — The Tennessee Titans have been awful on the road all season, and it was more of the same on Sunday when they were blown out 26-3 by the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

The loss dropped Tennessee to 5-11 on the season, and they finished just 1-7 on the road, with the only win coming at Miami on Dec. 11. It was the fourth time they've failed to score a touchdown in a road loss. It was also the first time they've lost in Houston in five years.

Much like many of their first 10 losses, it seemed like every early Titans mistake was catastrophic. Tennessee's much-maligned offensive line gave rookie quarterback Will Levis time to throw in the first quarter, but Treylon Burks dropped a perfectly thrown deep ball on the second play of the game. The drop certainly cost Tennessee some early points.

"I would have liked to have had that shot,'' Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel said.

The Titans went three-and-out and were forced to punt. Houston went 58 yards on 13 plays on their first possession, and got a field goal to take a 3-0.

On their second possession, the Titans converted on their first fourth down with a nice pass from Levis to DeAndre Hopkins, but Tayje Spears later dropped an easy throw in the flat and the Titans were forced to punt again, burying Houston at its own 6-yard line.

Tennessee's defense did its job, forcing a punt, but rookie Caleb Murphy ran into punter Cameron Johnston, and the Texans were awarded a first down. They took advantage of the huge blunder and proceeded to complete a 13-play, 94-yard drive to take a 10-0 lead on a C.J. Stroud pass to Brevin Jordan.

On the next play, Houston defensive end Jerry Hughes blew right past Tennessee's John Ojukwu, who checked in as a sixth lineman, and Hughes clobbered Levis, who was looking left while Hughes came from his right. Levis was sacked and fumbled, and Sheldon Rankins picked it up and scored from the Tennessee 13. Hughes also stepped on Levis' foot on the play, and Levis — who was just back after missing a game with an ankle injury — was unable to return to the game.

Even with 10:10 left in the second quarter, the game was pretty much over from there. Ryan Tannehill came in for Levis, and even though he completed 16-of-20 passes for 168 yards, the Titans never threatened the end zone. 

Houston's defense was stout. They had that early fumble recovery for a score and also had six sacks against that awful Tennessee line. The Titans have now given up 62 sacks this season, third-worst in the league behind only the two New York teams, the Jets and the Giants.

The Titans had only 187 total yards all game. Running back Derrick Henry gained 42 yards on 12 carries and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career. He now has 1,014 yards. 

DeAndre Hopkins had seven catches for 72 yards, and passed the 1,000-yard mark as well. He's now at 1,011 yards, and it was his seventh season over 1,000 yards.

The Titans finish the season next weekend with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18. The date and gametime will be determined after all the games are finished on Sunday. 

"It's hard to play again game when you're not complimenting each other and there's mistakes,'' Vrabel said.

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