The Day After the Day After: The Houston Texans shut out the common season by beating the Titans

The Day After the Day After…when the uncooked, rapid feelings from the aftermath of a sport diminish into the realm of readability and the proverbial (or literal) hangover now not haunts the thoughts. With that, a evaluation of Week 18:

Photograph by Justin Ford/Getty Pictures

A glorified scrimmage/wanted salve: With Houston locked into the fourth spot for the AFC playoffs, the ultimate results of this sport meant little. Win by 20 or lose by 20, Houston hosts the AFC Wild Card with one of the best report. But, few would argue that Houston wanted one thing to be ok with after their losses at Kansas Metropolis and the Christmas Day Bloodbath at NRG to Baltimore. They acquired some good vibes. On the opening sequence, C.J. Stroud got here out throwing, going six of six for 50 yards and a TD. Whereas Nico Collins was the first goal, Stroud regarded like the great Stroud. Even managed to maneuver out of stress and the get the ball down the sector on a few performs. Mixon and Collins acquired their 1000 yard seasons.

Then, as the sport moved on, extra of the second string acquired some enjoying time, saving the starters for subsequent week. To high it off, the workforce acquired a win. Maybe meaningless, however the squad celebrated the large performs with gusto, even netting an unsportsmanlike conduct flag or two. Someway, Ryans received’t go too arduous on the squad for that.

Photograph by Mitchell Leff/Getty Pictures

About these flags: In a single respect, it may be arduous to take a lot out of a sport handled like a preseason contest. Nonetheless, a couple of issues do stand out. Think about the useless flags on the highway. Tunsil logged his fifth Professional Bowl and stays a well-regarded pass-blocker. He additionally stays a league-leader in snagging false-start penalties. Bought two of them within the 1st half in opposition to the Titans. The workforce total logged six flags for 48 yards, however half of these flags had been of the pre-snap selection. Houston tied for sixth within the league in most penalties. That doesn’t auger nicely for the post-season.

The 2024-25 AFC South…yuck: For those who needed to name the AFC South the worst division in soccer, you’d don’t have any scarcity of proof. Solely the Houston Texans completed over .500 and half of the division appeared extra in line for the primary total decide than the playoffs. They went 3-17 in non-conference play (primarily matched up in opposition to the NFC North), 10-14 in non-divisional convention video games and customarily regarded really-not-good in big-time matchups. You possibly can argue that the NFC South was simply as unhealthy, with a worse non-conference report, however on steadiness, these groups performed higher, particularly later within the season. Houston might but change the narrative if they will no less than get again to the Divisional Spherical, however till Saturday, the narrative is that the AFC South sucks, and Houston primarily benefited from successful a suck division.

Photograph by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire through Getty Pictures

The Intrigue of the Titans: For a workforce that had dark-horse playoff contending hopes, ending with the #1 decide within the draft may appear a serious setback. Nevertheless, they discover themselves in an fascinating low season scenario. On condition that the workforce alternated between Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, this workforce might have a brand new QB, and they’re going to have their decide of Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. Or, they may go finest participant out there, and getting a dual-threat expertise like Travis Hunter by no means hurts. Or, they may simply commerce out of the #1, getting a serious haul of draft capital. As talked about earlier, the AFC South isn’t all that good, so only some strikes might get the ex-Oilers again in competition. Granted, they want to determine their entrance workplace and strategic route, however they are going to be a workforce to observe within the offseason.

Photograph by Wesley Hitt/Getty Pictures

FUN WITH NUMBERS:

11: Consecutive division video games received on the highway. Essentially the most unlikely of streaks continues. Houston hasn’t misplaced a highway division sport since 2021. Ryans is 6-0 in highway division video games. It does assist that the division isn’t high quality, however a lot of these wins got here when Houston rated the worst workforce within the division.

1-9: Common season report after successful a division title. By advantage of their 23-14 win, Houston lastly received an everyday season sport after clinching the division. That did nothing within the grand scheme of issues, however you’re taking no matter positives you will get.

49: Complete sacks logged by the Texans. A franchise report, and a motive why Houston may need a puncher’s probability in these playoffs. With two sacks in opposition to the Titans, the Texans completed tied for fifth within the league in that stat. Their aggressive, attacking model, led by their defensive position, did a lot to assist Houston win video games. That should proceed within the post-season if the squad hopes to keep away from a one-and-done.

Photograph by Wesley Hitt/Getty Pictures

GAME BALLS:

RB/KR Dameon Pierce: Onerous to go in opposition to the sport ball calls within the rapid recap. Pierce had his finest day as a professional working again, with 176 yards on 19 carries and a TD. Throw in a 34-yard kickoff return and he did some work. His 92-yard romp acquired essentially the most headlines, however even taking that out of the equation, his 18 carries for 84 yards nonetheless equates to a strong day on the workplace, with a lot of these runs within the fourth quarter as Houston regarded to salt this one away.

DL Derek Barnett: Additionally referred to as out within the rapid recap, however are you able to argue in opposition to it? His fumble restoration acquired the headlines, placing him in a tie for fifth in workforce TDs. He’s additionally the protection’s main scorer with 12 factors. But, his sack and TFL within the first half had been issues of magnificence. disrupting what little probabilities the Titans had when the sport was aggressive.

QB Davis Mills: This isn’t for his numbers (12 of twenty-two for 128 yards). This was extra for the truth that the workforce has received its final three video games when he takes no less than one sport snap in Tennessee. On condition that he was sidelined final season when the Texans wanted a QB to exchange an injured C.J. Stroud, it has to really feel considerably reassuring that the workforce stored him, prolonged him for an additional season, and let him oversee the win in Nashville. Does the win depend for something? No, however for Mills, you’re taking what you will get. Plus, he gave us this superb second in time:

Photograph by Justin Ford/Getty Pictures

SHOULD BE FORCED TO WEAR ACTUAL TITANS GEAR FOR LONGER THAN 3 SECONDS, FOLLOWED BY BEING FORCED TO HANG BUD ADAMS’ PICTURE IN EVERY ROOM OF THE RESIDENCE.

Offensive Coordinator Bobby Slowik: Did you assume he would get out of right here with out some criticisms. Positive, the opening drive went in addition to hoped with Stroud, Mixon, and Collins. But, among the play-calling left so much to be desired, even in a near-preseason sport. The squad went 1-of-4 in pink zone probabilities, and among the play-calling alongside the goal-line, particularly with two performs contained in the Titans’ 2-yard line, nicely, two incompletions, however nonetheless, Slowik, who leaned on the working sport, outsmarted himself. You hope he acquired his errors out of the best way right here, however then once more…

The Titans: The place to start? First, attempting to troll the present Houston workforce by carrying the Houston Oilers’ uniforms, solely to lose in embarrassing vogue for the second straight time. Then, corrupting the great identify of Johnny Money by enjoying “Ring of Fire” for the restricted scoring successes of a workforce worthy of the #1 draft decide. On high of that, nicely, the legacy of the Adams household is a few horrid a curse as I think about for the squad. Don’t know what ol’ Ok.S. “Bud” Adams thinks when he appears up at his squad, however this will’t be what he imagined when he settled in TN.

With that, the Houston common season is completed. They end 10-7, AFC South Champions, and at the moment are on to their designated Wild Card Weekend slot of internet hosting the opening playoff sport on opening Saturday. This time, they kickoff in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at 3:30 CST on CBS/Paramount+. See y’all there.