NASHVILLE – The Titans had a problem against Houston on Sunday.
It was themselves.
Two costly turnovers and continued sluggish play from the offense was too much to overcome in Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Texans.
And while defense kept the team in it for a while, the dam eventually broke as the Texans pulled away.
Second half penalties, and poor pass protection, also hurt the cause.
The loss dropped the Titans to 0-5 on the season.
Titans quarterback Cam Ward completed 23-of-36 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in the contest. Ward was sacked four times in the game, but was pressured throughout the contest.
Offensively, the Titans just couldn't get anything going against the Texans, who built their lead on first half field goals before cashing in possessions with touchdowns in the second half.
It was all part of a miserable day for the Titans fans who showed up at Nissan Stadium.
The Titans took an early 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye on a drive that turned out to be the highlight of the day for the offense.
The Texans tied the contest at 3-3 later in the first quarter on a 45-yard kick by Ka'imi Fairbairn.
After a fumble by running back Tyjae Spears gave the Texans the ball at the Titans 35-yard line, the defense got a stop, with safety Tony Adams making a nice tackle on 3rd and 2 for no gain. It led to another Fairbairn field goal, which made it 6-3.
On Tennessee's next possession, Ward was intercepted as he was pressured on a throw across the middle. The Texans cashed that in for another Fairbairn field goal, which made it 9-3 with 6:56 left in the second quarter.
The Texans extended their lead to 12-3 on a 53-yard field goal by Fairbairn, which followed a three-and-out from the Titans.
Things got worse in the second half.
At the start of the third quarter, the Texans put together a 17-play drive and capped it off with a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback C.J. Stroud to make it 19-3.
The Titans kept punting the ball back to the Texans, and they visitors kept adding to their lead. A nine-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to receiver Jaylin Noel made it 26-3 with 14:09 remaining.
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the Colts in Indianapolis.
