Tennessee Titans Keys To Victory in Week 15 Matchup Against Houston Texans

The Tennessee Titans' slim playoff hopes hang by a thread and every win at this stage is critical. If they want to get a needed win at home over the Houston Texans, they will need to make sure they succeed in a few key areas on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans on Sunday in a game where they will be the clear favorite due to the injury issues Houston will be dealing. They need to take care of business to keep their faint playoff hopes going and if they want to do so, they will need to nail these three keys to victory in Week 15.

Let Levis Attack

The Texans are the perfect team for the Titans to run their play-action pass attack against. They rely on zone coverage, and typically play Cover 3. That puts a lot of focus on the middle of the field and the Texans have been struggling there recently.

There should be ample opportunities for Levis to attack the linebackers of the Texans over the middle of the field, especially with starter Blake Cashman expected to miss this game. Levis should be able to hit crossers and deep-ins for chunk gains on play action and without. Scheme and personnel put the Texans in a tough spot.

The Texans overall though, regardless of coverage type, are a pass defense that can be attacked. They have given up the seventh-most passing yards in the NFL this year. While players like cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and safety Jalen Pitre have proven to be good players, this is a group you can go after.

Stop the Run

The Houston Texans are a much better team when they can run the football and the numbers prove it. In the Texans' seven wins this season, they have averaged 98 rushing yards per game. In the losses, that number drops to 78. 

You take that and add in the fact that Davis Mills is reportedly set to start this game with C.J. Stroud still in concussion protocol. If that is indeed what takes place, the Titans should be in an even better position to stop the run with a lesser threat in the pass game. 

#Texans C.J. Stroud, Nico.Collins, Will Anderson Jr., Tavierre Thomas, Blake Cashman, George Fant not practicing, and not playing Sunday against #Titans @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 15, 2023

It's not just Stroud, the Texans also look like they could be without their top two receivers as Tank Dell is expected to be out for the season and Nico Collins is also reportedly set to miss this game. Missing that trio means the Titans must force the Texans' backups beat them through the air.

Play a Clean Game

The Titans will be the better team on paper due to injuries and they are at home, where they have only lost one game this year. The only way the Titans lose this game is if they beat themselves. Turnovers, penalties and mental errors. 

These are all things the Titans have been guilty of doing throughout this season though. That's how you end up at 5-8. The Titans are second in the NFL in pre-snap penalties on offense according to the Monday Night Football broadcast. The special teams blunders got Craig Aukerman fired mid-season. This defense seems involuntarily gravitated towards drive-extending fouls.

Every team thinks playing a clean game is important, but for the Titans, it clearly isn't something they do often. If they want to beat a team they should beat in a situation that helps them, they will need to not hand the game over to the Texans in the normal silly ways.

Related Titans stories

• WILL LEVIS FILM BREAKDOWN: The Tennessee Titans found themselves down by 14 points and under five minutes remaining against the Miami Dolphins, but Will Levis played smart and crafty football to lead the Titans to a victory 767 teams before them were not able to obtain. CLICK HERE
• CARTHON'S FIRST CLASS: The Tennessee Titans have gotten significant contributions from their rookie draft class this season, especially on offense and as we approach Week 15, it is clear that first-year general manager Ran Carthon is off to a great start. CLICK HERE
• WEEK 15 INJURY REPORT: The Tennessee Titans will host the Houston Texans on Sunday and based on Thursday's injury report, the visitors will be coming in dealing with significant injuries to some of their key players. Something the Titans are very familiar with. CLICK HERE
• WEEK 14 TITAN UP-TITAN DOWN: The Tennessee Titans pulled off a miraculous comeback win against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football and when we you win a game like that, there will always be plenty of standout performances, but also some reason why you needed to comeback in the first place. CLICK HERE