Tennessee @ Houston preview
NRG Stadium
Last Meeting ( Dec 2, 2012 ) Houston 24, Tennessee 10
Both the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans look to remain unbeaten when the AFC South rivals square off at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. Each club registered an impressive road victory in its season opener, with Tennessee putting on a dominant defensive display at Pittsburgh and Houston rallying from a 21-point deficit in the second half to stun San Diego. The Titans' defense held the Steelers to 195 total yards and kept them off the scoreboard until Jerricho Cotchery caught a 4-yard touchdown pass with 1:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee needed the strong defensive performance as its offense gained only 229 yards and produced just one touchdown and three field goals. Houston, which swept the two-game series against the Titans last season, trailed San Diego 28-7 before Randy Bullock capped a run of 24 unanswered points by kicking a 41-yard field goal as time expired. Controversy could be brewing in the Texans' backfield as Arian Foster was visibly upset after being waved off the field by backup Ben Tate during a fourth-quarter drive on Monday.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -9. O/U: 43.
ABOUT THE TITANS (1-0): Tennessee kept the ball primarily on the ground against Pittsburgh, rushing 42 times compared to the Steelers' 15 attempts but averaging only 2.7 yards. Chris Johnson, who had 25 carries for 70 yards, needs to resemble the player who ran for 141 yards in the Titans' last meeting with the Texans if the visitors hope to have a chance to pull off another upset. Quarterback Jake Locker threw for 309 yards - the second-highest total of his career - in his last meeting with Houston but also committed five turnovers.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (1-0): Coach Gary Kubiak stated Foster, who missed the entire preseason with a calf injury, will be sharing the workload with Tate until he works his way back into form. "I want to keep it somewhat close right now and watch them working to (see) what's going on," Kubiak told the team's website early this week. Houston's defense will get a boost as defensive end Antonio Smith returns from his one-game suspension, and could receive another as safety Ed Reed (offseason hip surgery) hopes to make his debut with the team.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Titans have lost four of the last six meetings between the clubs.
2. Houston QB Matt Schaub passed for just over 200 yards (202, 207) in each victory over Tennessee last season.
3. Texans WR Andre Johnson's 12-catch, 146-yard performance last week marked the 18th time in his career - the most in NFL history - he has had at least 10 receptions and 100 yards.
PREDICTION: Texans 27, Titans 13