Houston needed a last-second field goal to squeeze by the Washington Redskins and backup quarterback Colt McCoy, but a win is a win and the Texans have piled up seven of them in a row to take command of the AFC South.
It wasn’t the Texans’ most impressive effort on either side of the ball, but they found a way to get the job done. After their 0-3 start, Houston now sits two games ahead of the hot Indianapolis Colts and the up-and-down Tennessee Titans.
That would be the same Tennessee Titans who will travel to the Great State of Texas looking to slow down the roll Houston finds themselves on.
They tried to do the same thing in Indianapolis this past week, but it didn’t go too well. Just a week after their impressive throttling of the New England Patriots, the Titans were crushed by Andrew Luck and the Colts, 38-10.
That put another game between the Texans and Titans in the standings and pulls the Colts into the playoff picture from out of nowhere after their own 1-5 start.
That makes for some interesting divisional games in the month ahead, starting with this one.
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Injuries and notes
The Titans could be without quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota re-injured the same elbow that left him unable to grip the football earlier in the season. If he does not get enough feeling back into his passing hand by game time, Blaine Gabbert could be lining up behind center.
Wide receiver Taywan Taylor is also questionable with a foot injury.
Houston lists linebackers Zach Cunningham (knee) and Duke Ejiofor (shoulder) as questionable, along with cornerback Aaron Colvin (ankle).
Coaching matchup
Bill O’Brien put his Texans into the playoffs a couple of times with some really questionable talent at quarterback. With Deshaun Watson, it was only a matter of time before he figured out a way to pull Houston out of its early-season lull. Fans are excited as they’ve ever been in Houston.
Tennessee’s rookie coach Mike Vrabel has put in some unique game plans to counter for other injuries and tilted matchups. Sometimes they work, like when his team started the Jaguar’s on their slide or when they crushed the Patriots. Other times, they take a beating against a division opponent. It’s enough to make Vrabel interesting to follow and for fans to keep the faith in Tennessee.
How to watch the Texans-Titans game
ESPN will broadcast this Monday Night Football matchup across the country, which means the savvy fans who subscribe to DirecTV Now or Sling TV can watch it on their favorite Internet-connected device.
Wherever internet TV subscribers are, if they have a Wi-Fi signal, they have access to live stream NFL action, as well as dozens of your favorite movie, sports, and entertainment channels.
Best of all, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, and other providers like Fubo TV or PlayStation Vue, give you all that variety and flexibility for just a fraction of the cost of cable or satellite television. Plus, none of them will make you sign a contract or expect you to buy expensive equipment.
There’s a reason why internet TV is making its move on the television market. You can learn why for yourself by taking advantage of each provider’s no-obligation trial period. Test it out on your TV, smartphone, or tablet without paying a dime!
Read More: NFL Week 16 Game Preview: Redskins at Titans
Who will win the Texans-Titans game?
Tennessee has proven to be one of the most unpredictable teams in the league. Houston hasn’t shown itself to be a powerhouse, surefire winner despite its impressive winning streak.
Vrabel will undoubtedly scheme something to offset the compromise of an injured quarterback and keep Houston’s offense in check. But a backup or injured passer against the Texans’ defense is difficult to count on.
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