Before the season, some NFL observers
felt that this game would involve fairly
high stakes for both sides, but after
Tennessee tumbled out of the gate with
six consecutive losses, coach Jeff
Fisher’s club lost all reasonable hope
of returning to the playoffs. It’s
Houston which has a legitimate shot at
the AFC postseason field; coach Gary
Kubiak is trying to get his boys to find
the late-game poise that will carry this
franchise to its first playoff
appearance. A loss to Tennessee might
not deal Houston a death blow, but it
would force the Texans to be virtually
perfect over the remainder of the
season.
NFL Handicapping: What The
Titans Have To Do To Win
Display ball security, and wait for
the other team to crack. Last weekend
against a woeful Buffalo club (yes,
there are many miserable teams in this
year’s NFL), Tennessee scored 24
fourth-quarter points en route to a
41-17 win over the Bills. But before you
think that backup quarterback Vince
Young is lighting up the scoreboard in
relief of Kerry Collins, think again.
Two of Tennessee’s three touchdowns in
that explosive period were pick-sixes
produced by the Titans’ defense.
Tennessee’s field goal in that quarter
was a 51-yard boot. Tennessee is cashing
turnovers into points. By sticking to
that formula, the visitors can win in
Houston.
NFL Handicapping: What The Texans
Have To Do To Win
Throw to set up the run. Teams have
fattened up this year by attacking an
oft-injured Tennessee secondary, but
Buffalo – with its dysfunctional
quarterback situation – was not in
position to take advantage of the
Titans’ back line of defense. Houston
quarterback Matt Schaub, however, can
definitely take aim down the field, and
he has the playmaking stud in receiver
Andre Johnson who can make the most of
an aggressive game plan.
If Houston can establish the pass,
the Texans will then be able to run the
ball with numerical advantages in the
tackle box, and that’s how an offense
can control an opposing defense.
