Titan Up/Titan Down: Winners & Losers From Titans Week 17 Loss to Houston Texans

The Tennessee Titans got embarrassed by the Houston Texans in Week 17 and while that will always warrant some losers, there were some winners amidst the beatdown that deserve their flowers.

The Tennessee Titans took on the Houston Texans for a second time this season in Week 17 and the result was the same as their first meeting, but this time, the process was a lot more gruesome. While the 26-3 loss came with it's dose of poor performances, there were some winners that emerged from the sadness of defeat.

Let's dive into the winners and losers in Week 17's Titan Up-Titan Down!

Titan Up

DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins has broken the curse. After multiple high-profile failures with veteran wide receivers like Randy Moss, Andre Johnson and Julio Jones, Hopkins has found a way to end the trend and have an incredibly productive season for the Titans.

Hopkins had seven catches for 72 yards against the Texans and went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season. His totals are now 68 catches for 1,011 yards and six touchdowns, all of which lead the Titans heading into Week 18.

Derrick Henry

We aren't going to pretend Henry had a great game on Sunday, finishing with 42 yards on 12 carries, but he did go over 1,000 rushing yards for the season in this game. It is the fifth time Henry has hit this statistical milestone and another example of his incredible career.

Henry's time with the Titans could be drawing to a close in one week's time, so although the accomplishment didn't come in typical Henry fashion, we should still take a moment and appreciate what Henry has done so far.

Harold Landry 

Landry sacked Texans' quarterback C.J. Stroud in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game and got him to 10.5 sacks on the season, Landry's second double-digit sack season of his career. After missing the entire 2022 season with an ACL tear, it is fair to say that Landry is back.

It was a slow start, but after the Titans' Week 7 bye, Landry has truly looked like his old self. Easing concerns about the big contract he signed prior to his injury. Landry joins Denico Autry(11.5) in the double-digit sack club. They are the only teammates in the NFL to both have over 10 sacks.

Titan Down

Titans coach Mike Vrabel on the sidelines Sunday in the loss at Houston, / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Vrabel

A second losing season in a row for Vrabel, but this one much more humiliating as the Titans have been flat-out embarrassed multiple times this season. They now sit on a three-game losing streak and risk getting swept in the AFC South. 

Vrabel has already been swept by the rookie head coaches in his division, Houston's Demeco Ryans and Indianapolis' Shane Steichen, and Jacksonville's Doug Pederson is a former Super Bowl winner. Vrabel may be the worst coach in his division if this season was any omen.

Add in the fact that the Titans' quarterbacks, including rookie Will Levis, can't seem to be protected enough to avoid injury and you have to wonder what ownership might be thinking after watching this team. 

Treylon Burks

Burks just can't get right. He had a huge drop on the opening drive against the Texans. He did well to beat all the defenders deep, but seem just slightly off-kilter when trying to haul in the perfect pass from Levis and it fell to the floor.

Burks has not shown any consistency since joining the team. He can't stay on the field and can't seem to make plays when he is healthy either. It just solidifies how terrible the trade of A.J. Brown was. This team should not be factoring Burks into their offseason decisions.

The Tank ... Sort Of

It wasn't a terrible week for the Titans Tank, but it wasn't a great one, either. The Arizona Cardinals created more chances for the Titans to get a higher pick when they beat the Philadelphia Eagles and got to four wins, but the Giants narrowly lost and the Chargers never had a chance to win. 

The Titans sit exactly where they were after last weekend, with the seventh pick. That is a little too low to feel confident in getting Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu at offensive tackle. The Titans truly need to lose in Week 18 and then just get help from one of the Giants, Chargers or Cardinals winning and they would secure a top-six selection. If three passers are taken in the top five, that guarantees you one of Alt, Fashanu or Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver.

Related Titans-Texans stories

• GAME STORY: 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. Here is Tom Brew's game story. CLICK HERE
• WATCH LEVIS HIT HOPKINS: The Tennessee Titans have kicked off their Week 17 matchup with the Houston Texans and they got a big fourth-down conversion early when Will Levis connected with DeAndre Hopkins for 12 yards to keep the drive alive. CLICK HERE
• WATCH LEVIS SACKED, INJURED: The Tennessee Titans got salt in the wound as they did in Week 15 against the Houston Texans as rookie quarterback Will Levis was hurt again. This time, the play also resulted in a score for the Texans' defense as Levis was stripped on a sack. CLICK HERE
• WATCH DILLARD GIVE UP TWO SACKS: The Tennessee Titans were able to get some points on the board before halftime despite essentially ending their last first-half drive with back-to-back sacks of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, with left tackle Andre Dillard surrendering the pressure both times. CLICK HERE