The Houston Texans won their second straight AFC South title on Sunday after defeating the Dolphins and benefiting from a Colts loss.
This marks the eighth division title in the history of the franchise, all of which have come since 2011.
Coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are the only coach-quarterback duo in NFL history to win division titles in their first two seasons together.
“Clinching the AFC South is huge for us,” Ryans said Monday. “Great accomplishment by all of our guys. It’s always our goal. You want to make it in the postseason, you have to win your division, it starts there. And so, we’re just thankful for everyone who played a part in us reaching a first step of our goal and that’s getting in.”
This is the fourth time the Texans (9-5) have won consecutive division titles and the first time since 2018-19. This success comes after the Texans won just 11 games in the three seasons before Ryans and Stroud arrived.
The Texans won 20-12 on Sunday, thanks to a strong performance by their defense, which forced four turnovers.
Houston Texans players celebrate after the win
Tua Tagovailoa lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Will Anderson Jr., and the Texans intercepted him three times, tying his career high.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. sealed the win with two interceptions in the fourth quarter, both of which were thrown to star receiver Tyreek Hill.
“Just defensively our guys stepped up and did a really good job closing out the game the way we needed to,” Ryans said. “Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now. Ask him to cover, man coverage, to go and get two picks versus a really good offense, that was huge for us.”
Stingley also recorded two tackles for loss on Sunday, making him the first cornerback in NFL history to have two interceptions and two tackles for loss in a game.
Stingley, the third overall pick in the 2022 draft, now has five interceptions this season, four of which came this month.
The good news is that coach Mike McDaniel didn’t see any blame being placed on others after quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins offense struggled in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans.
The bad news? One of the Dolphins’ worst offensive performances of the season happened at a time when they could not afford it.
“This particular game, I don’t think was up to the standard regardless of whoever’s in there,” McDaniel said Monday. “I think everyone is very, very aware after today’s meetings that, that is not anything that we want Miami Dolphin football to look like.”
The Dolphins offense turned the ball over four times in a game they needed to win to improve their playoff chances.
Miami also dropped to 1-4 this season against teams currently in the playoffs, with losses to Green Bay and Buffalo (twice). The Dolphins did defeat the Rams in Week 10, who are tied for the NFC West lead.
This is similar to last year when the 11-win Dolphins only beat one team that had a winning record before the matchup.
Defensive tackle Zach Sieler recently said the team has been in “playoff mode” since they got off to a 2-6 start. They have mostly bounced back, going 4-2 since Week 10 to keep their playoff hopes alive.
However, in the two losses during that stretch, they have struggled.
Houston Texans players celebrate after the win
In their Thanksgiving loss to Green Bay, Miami was beaten up in the trenches, rushing for just 39 yards while allowing 114 yards on the ground. They missed at least a dozen tackles on defense and were 4 of 14 on third downs.
On Sunday, the Texans used a fake punt to gain 35 yards and held Miami to just 224 total yards.
Tagovailoa had his second-lowest passer rating (60) of the season. He faced constant pressure from Houston’s pass rush, playing behind an offensive line missing three starting tackles, which allowed three sacks.
Tagovailoa had a strip-sack and three interceptions, which led to 10 points for Houston, including a pick on Miami’s last attempt at a comeback on the final drive.
“I’ve got to protect the ball. I’ve got to play better ball for our guys,” Tagovailoa said. “Especially in a situation where the team is counting on me to go and drive our offense down to potentially tie the game up, and that’s not what I did. That’s not how you win games in this league.
“Very disappointed with how I played today and with how I conducted myself on the field, with our guys, with our team. I just need to be better in all aspects with that.”
Texans Face Tough 2024 Schedule, but Easier Path in 2025 Sparks Optimism for Improved Results
The Houston Texans entered the 2024 season with a projected win total of 9.5 games, meaning they needed 10 or more wins to exceed expectations. Currently standing at 8-5 with four games remaining, the Texans need strong performances to secure a winning record. To reach 11 wins, they must defeat at least one of their toughest remaining opponents, the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens, which poses a significant challenge. However, a 10-7 record remains achievable, with more favorable matchups against the Dolphins and Titans on the horizon.
The Texans faced a much tougher schedule in 2024 compared to 2023, when they finished 10-7. This year, they encountered elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, which raised the level of competition considerably. Additionally, the structure and flow of the schedule became major hurdles, as factors like prime time games, the placement of the bye week, and holiday matchups disrupted the team’s rhythm and created difficult stretches throughout the season.
Texans Face Tough 2024 Schedule, but Easier Path in 2025 Sparks Optimism for Improved Results
One unique challenge for the Texans was starting training camp earlier than any other team due to their participation in the preseason Hall of Fame game. Coupled with a late bye week in early December, Houston ended up playing and practicing longer than any team in the modern NFL era. The extended stretch of games without a break likely contributed to fatigue and performance struggles in the second half of the season.
The Texans also faced the NFC North in their conference crossover matchups, which proved especially difficult. The division considered one of the strongest in recent memory, includes top-tier teams like the Lions, Vikings, and Packers, all of whom handed losses to Houston. In 2025, the Texans will face the NFC West instead, a division with fewer dominant teams, offering a much more manageable slate of opponents.
Further complicating the 2024 schedule were three consecutive prime time games in Weeks 9, 10, and 11, followed by a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days during the holiday season, including a Christmas Day matchup. Playing 13 straight weeks without a bye also raised concerns about player safety. These irregular scheduling challenges are unlikely to repeat in 2025, which should give the Texans a more balanced and favorable path moving forward.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose is carted off the field after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans
Miami receiver Grant DuBose was taken to the hospital in stable condition and was being further evaluated after he was removed from the field on a stretcher following a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” said coach Mike McDaniel. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”
DuBose tried to catch the ball in the third quarter but was struck in the head by rookie Calen Bullock before his head slammed into the ground. After the hit, DuBose appeared to make movements with both fists, known as the “fencing response,” which is often seen after a brain injury. He then stayed still while medical staff rushed to his side.
“Very tough to have seen live,” said quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. “I’m my toughest critic when it comes to ball placement, when it comes to knowing where to go with the ball and all that. I just feel bad that I even put him in that situation to have gotten hit. It was tough to move on after that happened.”
Houston Texans players celebrate after the win
Bullock was flagged for unnecessary roughness for hitting a defenseless receiver.
“I was praying that he would be OK,” said Bullock. “I wasn’t trying to go out there and hurt nobody.”
DuBose was attended to on the field for over 10 minutes. His jersey was cut off, and a neck brace was placed on him while both teams watched in concern.
At one point, the Dolphins moved away from DuBose and formed a circle, kneeling and appearing to pray. McDaniel and Houston coach DeMeco Ryans shared a moment of support as DuBose was still on the field.
DuBose was then placed on a spine board, with his arms and legs strapped down, and taken off the field. He had a tube in his mouth, and no movement was seen as he was carried away.
Tagovailoa, who has had multiple concussions in his career, including one that required a stretcher in 2022, expressed his sadness at seeing his teammate injured.
“We all know that I’ve gone through something similar, and that’s no fun,” said Tagovailoa. “You never want to be put in any of those situations, but you also understand that this is a physical sport. It’s a contact sport. Again, I just think of what I could have done to not put Grant in that situation.”
Ryans said it was hard for both teams to continue after seeing the injury.
C.J. Stroud looks to pass in the 1st half
“When you see a guy down on the field like that, it’s very hard to see, and we’re just praying that all is well with him and that he recovers as quickly as possible,” said Ryans.
McDaniel agreed, stating that it was hard to refocus on the game after such a traumatic event.
“There’s nothing that I can say or anything,” McDaniel said. “You have a lot of prideful guys that are trying to go back to work, and I think that (they’re) motivated by knowing Grant and how he’d want us to finish the game. It’s unfortunately something you have to go through once in a while in the game. It’s not easy.”
DuBose, a seventh-round pick last season, had just returned to action after injuring his shoulder earlier in the season.
This was the second straight Texans game where an opposing player suffered a head injury from an illegal hit. On Dec. 1, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair hit quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the head while Lawrence was sliding, giving him a concussion. Al-Shaair was ejected for the hit and later suspended for three games after his appeal was denied.
Derek Stingley was outstanding as he was assigned to cover Miami’s top receiver Tyreek Hill for most of Sunday’s game. Stingley played a big role in Houston’s defense, which forced four turnovers, including two interceptions in the fourth quarter. These turnovers helped the Texans win 20-12 against the Miami Dolphins.
“Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now,” said Houston coach DeMeco Ryans.
With this victory, the Texans (9-5) secured their second consecutive AFC South title after the Broncos defeated the Colts later that day.
Stingley talked about his performance against Hill, who had only two receptions for 36 yards: “It’s a good opportunity going against somebody that’s the face of the NFL. So anytime you get to go out there on the field, it’s just a good time, just time to have fun.”
Jonnu Smith gets tackled by Will Anderson Jr. and Christian Harris in the 1st half
Nico Collins had two touchdown catches for the Texans in the win. His first was a 6-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and his second came in the third quarter, making the score 20-6. This score was set up by a 35-yard run by Dare Ogunbowale on a fake punt.
Tua Tagovailoa threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith with about 4½ minutes left in the third quarter, but the Dolphins missed the extra point, so they couldn’t get closer than 20-12.
The Dolphins tried to make a comeback, but Stingley intercepted a pass intended for Hill with about 10½ minutes left, which stopped the drive at the Houston 20-yard line. After two more Texans drives ended in punts, Stingley sealed the win by grabbing another interception off Hill.
“Defensively our guys stepped up and did a really good job of closing out the game the way we needed to,” Ryans said.
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud was impressed by Stingley’s abilities. “He’s one of a kind,” Stroud said. “Trying to get him a play on offense one of these days. I think he’s that good with the ball in his hands.”
Stroud threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Miami’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a rough day, throwing for 196 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. He also lost a fumble. The Dolphins (6-8) struggled without their starting tackles, Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm.
Tagovailoa took responsibility for his mistakes. “Plain and simple, my fault,” he said. “I’ve got to protect the ball. I’ve got to play better ball for our guys, especially in the situation where the team is counting on me to drive our offense down to potentially tie the game up. That is not what I did.”
There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Miami receiver Grant DuBose was taken off the field on a stretcher after a helmet-to-helmet hit. The team reported he is in stable condition and was sent to a local hospital for further evaluation.
C.J. Stroud looks to pass in the 1st half
“There’s been some positive feedback related to some head and neck imaging,” said coach Mike McDaniel. “He will stay here overnight, and we’ll find out more by (Monday).”
DuBose had been hit in the head by rookie Calen Bullock after trying to make a catch. He stayed on the field for a while as medical staff attended to him. Bullock was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play.
The game started with the Texans getting a 44-yard field goal on their first drive, and the Dolphins tied it with a 55-yard field goal. Miami’s defense came up big when Will Anderson Jr. sacked Tagovailoa, forcing a fumble that Tim Settle recovered at the Miami 28. Stroud then found Collins for a 6-yard touchdown pass, putting the Texans ahead.
Miami answered with a 36-yard field goal to make it 10-6, but the Texans extended their lead to 13-6 with a field goal after an interception by Bullock.
C.J. Stroud looks to pass the ball in the 2nd half
C.J. Stroud faced criticism after the Texans struggled in their last few games, losing three out of four following a strong start to the season. Despite this, Stroud stayed confident, and his solid performance last Sunday led the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars, putting them two games ahead in the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville, bringing his total to 3,117 passing yards this season, ranking fourth in the NFL.
This performance came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee, which was the Texans’ third loss in four games. Those two interceptions increased his season total to nine, which is four more than he threw as a rookie. However, the Texans aren’t worried about this and believe Stroud has made progress in his second year.
Houston Texans players celebrate in the 2nd half
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. … Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
Despite several key injuries on offense, the Texans are still in a good position to win their division for a second consecutive season. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury, and top receiver Nico Collins was out for five games with a hamstring injury. They also lost Stefon Diggs, a four-time Pro Bowler, for the season after he tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, along with four touchdown receptions. His performance in his first season in Houston, following a trade from Cincinnati, has helped the team overcome the injuries to their receivers. He ranks third in the NFL with an average of 88.7 rushing yards per game and has surpassed 100 rushing yards in seven games.
Stroud has often praised Mixon for his contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
On defense, Danielle Hunter has been a standout for Houston. After spending eight seasons in Minnesota, the defensive end joined the Texans this year and has been key in helping the team lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss, collecting 15 of them this season, which ties for third most in the league.
He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks, contributing to their second-place ranking in the NFL with 42 sacks.
Hunter has been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
C.J. Stroud throws a pass in the 1st half
Ryans mentioned that the team needs this week’s break, especially after starting the preseason on August 1 with the Hall of Fame game. “It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans will use this time to recharge before facing a tough schedule after the bye. They host Miami on December 15, travel to Kansas City on December 21, and face the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. … We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those games without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who was suspended for three games for a dangerous hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which caused a concussion. Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for the Texans’ final regular-season game against Tennessee.
The Houston Texans gained some much-needed momentum before their bye week, defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-20 on Sunday after knocking quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of the game with a concussion.
Joe Mixon rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards. The Texans (8-5) secured only their second win in the last five games and kept a two-game lead in the AFC South.
“Yeah, it’s a win for us, a big win for us,” said Houston coach DeMeco Ryans. “Now, we need a break. It’s been a long time. … It’s 13 weeks straight now. It’s been a long time and our guys, I think we felt that toward the end of the game. Our guys are gassed. The bye week is coming up at a perfect time for us.”
Mixon appeared to have plenty of energy left. He became the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in six road games during the same season. He joined Tiki Barber (2004) and Derrick Henry (2020) in this achievement, becoming the first to do so in his first six road games of the year.
Nico Collins in the 1st half
Mixon carried the ball 20 times, including a key 8-yard run on third-and-5 in the final minutes, which helped secure the win.
“Joe’s an old school running back,” Ryans said. “He’s that guy that wants it 30 times, and he keeps getting better the more touches that he gets. So really proud of him to know he’s hurting and still push through. To still turn out yards, even when they’re loading the box, and still being able to find a way to get yards.”
C.J. Stroud completed 22 of 34 passes for 242 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz early in the fourth quarter that sealed the game. The win marked Houston’s 12th in the last 14 matchups against the Jaguars (2-10) and their sixth straight win in Jacksonville.
Schultz finished with five catches for 61 yards and was part of the Texans’ successful offense.
The game also featured a controversial hit on Lawrence. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair delivered a violent elbow to Lawrence in the second quarter while the quarterback was sliding after a scramble. The hit caused a brawl on the field. Lawrence showed signs of a possible concussion and was down for several minutes before being helped off the field and carted away. He was ruled out with a concussion.
C.J. Stroud throws a pass in the 2nd half
Tight end Evan Engram and other Jaguars players confronted Al-Shaair after the hit.
“It was a dirty hit,” Engram said. “Obviously those hits are always in question. … It just didn’t feel like a clean hit, so just go stick up for my quarterback.”
Mac Jones replaced Lawrence and threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to rally from a 23-6 deficit in the fourth quarter. However, Jacksonville did not get the ball back after that.
“Sports are very emotional, especially when something like that happens,” Jones said about the reaction to Lawrence’s injury. “We definitely came together as a team and fought hard for Trevor. Came up short at the end, but I feel like the guys responded.”
Houston Texans players celebrates after an interception in the 1st half
The Houston Texans have lost three of their last four games and could really use a break. They may get that chance before their actual bye week.
Houston (7-5) will play at Jacksonville (2-9) on Sunday, which will be their 13th straight game.
Given how well the Texans have performed against the Jaguars in recent years, this game could be just what coach DeMeco Ryans’ team needs to get back on track as December begins.
“It hasn’t been easy,” Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “We haven’t had any time to kind of like breathe. But that’s the NFL; that’s our job. We’ve really got to come back with another week of just hard work, a lot of just grinding because we’re right around the corner from our bye and I think that’ll be a good thing for all of this team.”
The Texans have won 11 of the last 13 games against the Jaguars and 17 of the last 21 matchups, including five straight in Jacksonville, since being swept in 2013. This is a very impressive stretch of dominance between these two long-time rivals.
Jacksonville Jaguars players celebrate after a touchdown
No one would be surprised if the Texans extend their winning streak on Sunday. The Jaguars have lost four straight games, with their last three losses being the worst stretch in the team’s history.
Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (sprained non-throwing shoulder) is expected to return after missing the last two games. Coach Doug Pederson mentioned that other changes might be coming after the team’s bye week, but he didn’t specify whether these changes would involve players or assistant coaches.
“We’re going to implement some things and really kind of get back to some things that I think were successful, have been successful for us,” Pederson said. “Whether it’s rhythm, tempo, whatever, to try to get things going.”
Jacksonville likely needs to win all their remaining games to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They have four division games left, plus matchups with the New York Jets (3-8) and Las Vegas (2-9).
“I feel the best I’ve felt in the past few weeks, so I’m excited about it,” Lawrence said.
C.J. Stroud wasn’t the only Houston Texan who had a rough game on Sunday in a tough 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans, but he was the most open about taking responsibility for the defeat.
“It’s no secret, I haven’t been playing well personally, for my standard,” Stroud said. “I have a couple good drives and plays here, but it’s up and down … I’ve got to be hard on myself and realize that games can come down to me making plays.”
Stroud passed for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions as the Texans lost their third game in the last four after a strong 5-1 start.
“I’ve got to just be better, and I know that,” Stroud added.
In the past three games, Stroud has thrown five interceptions, bringing his total to nine for the season. He only had five interceptions in 15 games as a rookie.
Houston Texans players celebrate in the 2nd half
The Texans (7-5) got a touchdown from Jimmie Ward’s interception return in the third quarter, but their offense could only manage a field goal after halftime, continuing a pattern of struggles in the second half.
Houston’s offense scored 10 points after halftime in a 34-10 win over the Cowboys on Monday night, but in their last three losses, they’ve scored only nine points in the second half combined.
“We have to create positive plays,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “Too many times, whether it’s run or pass, we have a negative play which kills our drive. First things first, how can we sustain positive plays and build drives? Too many drives were stalled out before we could even get started.”
Despite the offensive issues, the Texans still had a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes left. However, Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field goal attempt missed wide left.
Will Levis and the Tennessee Titans were far from perfect on Sunday, but they did just enough to hold off the mistake-prone Houston Texans and secure their first AFC South win of the season.
Levis threw for 278 yards, and his 70-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo gave the Titans the lead in the fourth quarter. Tennessee went on to win 32-27.
“The coolest thing about this game was just the way our team fought,” said coach Brian Callahan. “It was a back-and-forth game. Our guys did a good job of not flinching and keeping the blinders on. We’ve been in games like this before, and we haven’t been able to make a play, but this week, we made a play.”
Okonkwo caught a short pass and raced for the touchdown to put the Titans (3-8) up 30-27 with 9½ minutes left. Safety Eric Murray missed a tackle that could have stopped him around midfield.
Jimmie Ward runs with the ball in the 2nd half
The Texans (7-5) had a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes left, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 28-yard field goal attempt missed wide left. Fairbairn fell to the ground after the miss, got up, and slammed his helmet on the field.
Callahan raised both hands in the air and smiled after watching the miss, which allowed his team to win despite having three turnovers.
The Texans forced a three-and-out but couldn’t move the ball after that. Harold Landry sacked C.J. Stroud in the end zone for a safety, making the score 32-27 and allowing the Titans to break their two-game losing streak.
Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions as the AFC South-leading Texans lost their third game in the last four. Stroud has thrown five interceptions in his last three games, bringing his total to nine for the season, more than he had in 15 games as a rookie.
“It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well… I’ve got to be harder on myself,” Stroud said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.”
Jimmie Ward returned an interception for a touchdown in the third quarter, and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the way with three sacks, and Will Anderson Jr. added two after missing two games with an ankle injury. However, the offense struggled, and Joe Mixon was held to just 22 yards on 14 carries.
C.J. Stroud stands on the field after the loss
“Just a disappointing loss for us,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives.”
This was Tennessee’s first win of the season in a game that Levis both started and finished. The second-year quarterback had missed three games earlier this season due to a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder.
“I’m really proud of Will,” Callahan said. “He’s done a lot of things to get himself back in the right place, mentally and physically. It was a really good performance.”
Levis knows he can improve, but he was glad to leave Houston with a win in a challenging season.
“It feels awesome,” he said. “A lot of people have been working really hard to get a win like this. I’m just happy for the organization, top down.”
Tennessee extended their lead to 23-17 on a 51-yard field goal by Nick Folk with nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Stroud threw his second interception with about 90 seconds left in the third, but Ward’s touchdown came three plays later, putting the Texans ahead 24-23.
The Titans fumbled a punt early in the fourth quarter, and Houston recovered. Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal to extend the Texans’ lead to 27-23 with about 10 minutes to go.
Dameon Pierce returned the opening kickoff 80 yards, putting the Texans in the red zone. Stroud then threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to rookie Cade Stover for his first touchdown reception.
Ka′imi Fairbairn reacts after missing a field goal in the 2nd half
The Titans trailed by four after Folk’s field goal, but Nick Westbrook-Ikhine got open for a 38-yard touchdown catch that gave Tennessee a 10-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Tennessee extended their lead to 17-7 when Tony Pollard ran 10 yards for a touchdown with about 11 minutes left in the second quarter. Pollard finished with 119 yards and a touchdown.
Nico Collins scored on a 5-yard reception with about six minutes left in the second quarter.
Levis fumbled with about 3½ minutes left, and the Texans added a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17.
Houston forced a punt, but rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. intercepted a pass two plays later, giving the Titans the ball back. Folk’s 56-yard field goal, which matched his career long, put Tennessee ahead 20-17 at halftime.
Ka′imi Fairbairn reacts after missing a field goal in the 2nd half
The Houston Texans made mistakes all over the field in their 32-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, marking their third defeat in the last four games.
C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions, the defense allowed several big passing plays, and Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 28-yard field goal that would have tied the game late.
“Just a disappointing loss for us,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “We didn’t do anything well enough to win this game. Out of all the positives that we did have, there were way too many negatives, too many negative plays.”
Jimmie Ward had a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, and the Texans tied a franchise record with eight sacks. Danielle Hunter led the way with three sacks, and Will Anderson Jr. added two after returning from an ankle injury. However, the offense struggled for most of the game, with Joe Mixon gaining only 22 yards on 14 carries.
Ryans did not blame the offense for the loss, saying, “Our offense did plenty. They gave us enough points. On defense, we have to be able to stop them.”
The Titans (3-8) went ahead 30-27 with 9½ minutes left when Chig Okonkwo caught a short pass and broke a tackle to run 70 yards for a touchdown. Eric Murray missed a key tackle on the play that could have stopped Okonkwo near midfield.
That was one of three long passing plays the Titans had. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Calvin Ridley had a 63-yard reception that set up another touchdown in the second.
C.J. Stroud stands on the field after the loss
“It was just way too many negative plays,” Ryans said. “Defensively, unexplainable explosives for touchdowns. We didn’t play good across the board and that starts with me.”
Despite everything that went wrong, the Texans (7-5) still had a chance to tie the game with less than two minutes left. However, Fairbairn’s field goal attempt missed wide left. He dropped to the ground after the miss, then got up and slammed his helmet.
“The most frustrating part about it is out of all the bad things that happened, we still had a chance to finish the game,” Ryans said. “Everything that could go wrong, it went wrong. We still had a chance there to tie it up and finish the game, and we didn’t.”
The Texans forced a three-and-out but couldn’t move the ball after that. Harold Landry sacked Stroud in the end zone for a safety, making it 32-27 and sealing the win for the Titans, ending their two-game losing streak.
Stroud threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions on Sunday bring his total to nine on the season, more than he had all of last year (five).
“It’s no secret that I haven’t been playing well … I’ve got to be harder on myself,” Stroud said. “I’m not going to hold my head down. I know I can be a great player, but I’ve got to make better plays.”
The Houston Texans made a noteworthy move on Tuesday by claiming safety Kareem Jackson off waivers, just a day after his release from the Denver Broncos, the team confirmed. In a corresponding decision, the Texans placed safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve due to a quad injury sustained during Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Jackson, 35, experienced a turbulent season marked by two suspensions, the latest being a four-game suspension. His on-field conduct led to ejections from two games due to repeated violations of unnecessary roughness rules.
Kareem Jackson (Credits: Sportsnet)
The first ejection occurred in Week 2 against the Washington Commanders when Jackson illegally hit tight end Logan Thomas. Subsequently, in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, he was ejected in the fourth quarter for a sideline hit on Packers tight end Luke Musgrave, resulting in an initially three-game suspension that was later reduced to two on appeal.
During Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, Jackson delivered a hard hit on quarterback Joshua Dobbs by lowering his helmet, although he avoided ejection. Nevertheless, the league suspended him for four games for consistently violating player safety rules.
Jackson, who spent the past five seasons with the Denver Broncos, is now reunited with Texans coach DeMeco Ryans, with whom he played his initial two seasons in Houston. Originally drafted by the Texans as the No. 20 overall pick in the 2010 draft, Jackson played nine seasons in Houston.
Expressing his excitement about returning to the Texans, Jackson told KPRC-TV on Tuesday, “It’s all coming full circle, having spent a lot of time in Houston. I’m really excited and happy for DeMeco and all the success he’s having.”
Jackson, who started 69 games for the Broncos over the past five seasons, including eight this year, returned to practice last Wednesday after serving his four-game suspension. Despite being on a roster exemption that ended Monday, he was not activated for Sunday night’s 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots.
With Jackson’s addition, the Texans now boast two of the three players suspended this season for illegal hits, joining veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Damontae Kazee is the other player facing suspension for similar infractions.
