Texans face must-win against Titans
The Houston Texans are in a tough spot. After beginning the year with a 1-2 mark, Houston now comes home after a brutal loss to the New England Patriots, and welcomes in the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee, the favorite of many in the preseason picks for the AFC South, enters with a 2-1 record.
On the surface, it would seem that calling this game a must-win for the Texans is an overstatement. After all, Houston would only be two games back of the Titans with 12 to play, and while Tennessee is talented, its not going to run and hide.
The problem would be in the details. Houston still has a brutal schedule ahead that includes a home date with the Kansas City Chiefs next week on Sunday night. After hosting the Cleveland Browns and then having a bye week, the Texans travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks. Beyond that are games on the road against the Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts (presumably with Andrew Luck) and a home contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Additionally, losing to the Titans would be a tough defeat to overcome within the division. Tennessee would be 2-0 in the AFC South, having beat both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Texans on the road. Meanwhile, Houston would be 0-2 with losses at home to the Jaguars and Titans. Even if the Texans were able to win the rest of their AFC South games (unlikely), Tennessee would only need to take care of business at home against the Jaguars and in the contests versus the Colts to clinch the tiebreaker.
If Houston is going to get off the deck and make this a three-way fight in the South (Jacksonville is also 2-1 and playing the New York Jets on Sunday), it has to find a way to contain the backfield trio of Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray. If the Texans can slow them down and get another quality performance out of rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, they will find themselves right in the thick of the battle.
If there is one thing on their side, the Texans have the experience here. While Watson dies not, the rest of the team has gone through the battles and won a pair of division titles over the past two seasons, showcasing a mental toughness and mettle.
Come Sunday afternoon, the Texans will need it to be on display against a team that has a huge win in its sights. Houston will see its fortunes take a drastic turn one way or the other, and with a win, make a compelling race in the AFC South.
