The 0-4 Houston Texans are rolling into Nashville this Sunday to face the also 0-4 Tennessee Titans, and man, if you thought the Texans were Super Bowl contenders this season, that 0-4 record is already a gut punch. An 0-5 record? Forget about it, that’s virtually impossible for any shot at a deep run.
Texans’ D-Line Is About to Eat
Let’s just be real: on paper, the Texans are a much better team. Their defensive front is easily one of the best in the league, period. The Titans’ offensive line has actually played better this year, but here’s the kicker: they haven’t faced a D-line like Houston’s to this point. This Sunday is gonna be a massive, massive test for them, and honestly, I’m not sure they’re ready.
Titans QB Cam Ward did play better last week than the week before, but he is about to feel *way* more pressure in this game. We’ve seen it before: when Ward feels that heat, he has a tendency to revert to some bad habits that lead to inconsistent play. I’m telling you, look for the Texans to bag at least 4 sacks on Ward in this one. This isn’t just a prediction, it’s what happens when you pit that kind of pressure against a guy who struggles with it.
The Nico Collins Problem Is Real
If the Titans want any shot at stopping the Texans, they HAVE to shut down Nico Collins. The facts don’t lie on this one: when Collins plays, the Texans are averaging over 30 points per game. When he’s out? They drop under 12 points per game. Obviously, it isn’t exactly that simple, but that’s how impactful he is for their offense.
And to make things even harder for Tennessee, they are going to be without starting safety Amani Hooker. Yeah, Hooker hasn’t exactly been lights out this season, but that secondary is still better with him on the field. That +144 line over at FanDuel Sportsbook for Collins to get 90-plus receiving yards? Man, that looks like free money to me. Houston knows they’re playing with their season on the line, and they are going to get Collins involved.
So what’s the deal? My gut and the numbers are saying Texans come out swinging hard. Prediction: Texans 27, Titans 13. This game is literally the season on the line for Houston, and they’re going to throw everything they’ve got at the Titans to avoid that 0-5 start. Will Tennessee’s O-line and a pressured Cam Ward hold up? I just don’t see it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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