NASHVILLE – The Titans face the Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Here's a quick look at the Texans:
Record: 4-12.
Points for/against: 15.9/26.5.
NFL RANKINGS
Offense: 32nd overall, 273.4 ypg (32nd rushing, 30th passing).
Defense: 29th overall, 383.1 ypg (32nd rushing, 21st passing).
TEAM LEADERS
Head coach: David Culley.
Offense:
QB: Davis Mills (240-of-361, 2,363 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs, 85,2 rating).
Top RB: Rex Burkhead (110 rush, 403 yards, 3.7 ypc, 3 TDs).
Top WR: Brandin Cooks (87 catches, 1,011 yards, 6 TDs).
Top TE: Pharoah Brown (23 catches, 171 yards, 0 TDs).
Defense:
Sacks: DE Jonathan Greenard (8).
Leading tackler: LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (65).
Interceptions: CB Desmond King (3), CB Lonnie Johnson (3).
Take/Give: +3 (25/22).
Kicker: Ka'imi Fairbairn (14-of-18 FGs, 11-of-14).
Punter: Cameron Johnston (46.9, 42.0).
Last meeting: November 21, 2021: Texans 22 Titans 13.
Of note:
-Texans defensive back Desmond King II played nine games with the Titans in 2020.
-Texans head coach David Culley was a four-year letterman at Vanderbilt, and he grew up in Sparta, Tennessee, where he played at White County High School.
-Texans director of sports performance planning and medical administration Geoff Kaplan spent 14 seasons as an assistant trainer with the Oilers/Titans (1995-2009).
-Texans practice squad fullback Paul Quessenberry is the younger brother of Titans right tackle David Quessenberry.
-Texans offensive lineman Justin McCray originally signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and he spent his rookie season on Tennessee's practice squad.
-Texans quarterback Davis Mills has a 90-plus rating in 3 of his past 4 starts, and he has 9 TDs vs 1 INT for a 106.2 rating in 6 home starts this season.
-Texans running back Rex Burkhead aims for his third straight game with 75-plus scrimmage yards, and he has 50-plays scrimmage yards in 3 of his last 4 games at home.
-Texans receiver Brandin Cooks has 100-plus receiving yards in 2 of his past 3 games. He's one of just 2 WRs (Mike Evans) with 1,000 receiving yards in 6 of the past 7 seasons.
Injury Report
WR Chris Conley (knee)
QB Deshaun Watson (NIR)
OL Justin Britt (knee)
DL Jonathan Greenard (shoulder)
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (knee)
Titans head coach Mike Vrabel …
(on how the Texans look now compared to the previous matchup)
There are a few players that have changed. Obviously, the quarterback has changed. (Rex) Burkhead has been getting a bulk of the carries. They rely heavily on the skillset of (Brandin) Cooks. Defense is fast and they create a lot of turnovers as we know firsthand.
(on Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks and how he has continued to have success wherever he plays)
He just has the ability to – I guess the skillset and the player always wins out no matter who is throwing to him or what team or what helmet he is wearing. He isn't a big, big player, but he has got speed and I think he has got really good play strength. He does a great job of creating penalties down the field or catching those deep passes. It will be critical that we try to do everything we can to defend him.
