Tennessee Titans score prediction vs. Houston Texans: Our NFL Week 17 pick is in

The Tennessee Titans have one last chance to end their long AFC South losing streak before the calendar turns to 2024.

The Titans (5-10) visit the Houston Texans (8-7) at NRG Stadium on Sunday (noon, FOX), just two weeks after they last met. The Texans bested the Titans 19-16 in overtime, handing coach Mike Vrabel's squad its seventh straight divisional loss dating to last season and tied with Arizona for the NFL's longest such losing streak.

Vrabel's squads have historically played well when given a chance to play a team twice in three games. The Titans are 3-0 in those opportunities in his tenure, outscoring their opponents 99-50 in those games.

Quarterback uncertainty will color this matchup just as much as it did the last one, if not more. Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has missed the past two weeks with a concussion, but is progressing in his recovery toward a return this week. Titans rookie Will Levis is fighting back from an ankle injury suffered at the end of that game against the Texans, and his status is uncertain.

Here are The Tennessean's scouting report and score prediction for Sunday's game.

Titans offense vs. Texans defense

The Texans' defensive front was the difference in Week 15. The pass rush hit Levis 11 times, including seven sacks, and the run stoppers held running back Derrick Henry to the worst game he has ever started, gaining just 9 yards on 16 carries.

Injuries to defensive ends Will Anderson and Jonathan Greenard, linebacker Blake Cashman and safety Jimmie Ward threaten to limit what the Texans can do defensively, especially when it comes to rushing the passer. But the Titans' offensive line has struggled to protect Levis and veteran Ryan Tannehill all season regardless of opponent, and that continues to be the No. 1 concern no matter how healthy the opponents are.

When he was given time, Levis found some success throwing vertically and finding receivers on crossing routes. Four different Titans caught a pass that gained at least 20 yards, and none was DeAndre Hopkins, the team's leading receiver. If the pass rush is limited, and the rushing attack is able to produce even a little bit, there's a path to the Titans' offense converting on enough big plays to make this an even matchup.

Advantage: Texans, but it's not as lopsided as it was last time.

Titans defense vs. Texans offense

Having Stroud available would be such an obvious difference-maker, it almost doesn't need to be mentioned. The Texans have averaged 60 more yards per game with him than without. With him, the Texans have averaged roughly the same number of yards per game as the Kansas City Chiefs. Without him, their offense produces at a comparable clip to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But it's not just Stroud. No. 1 receiver Nico Collins didn't play against the Titans, either. The NFL's 11th-leading receiver in yards per game, he has the skills to be a major headache for a Titans defense dealing with numerous injuries in the secondary.

The Titans' pass rush has been a saving grace in the second half of the season and was lively against Houston, registering 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. Keeping its passing game off balance is a huge key; the Texans are allowing 15.4 pressures per game in losses compared to just 9.9 pressures per game in wins.

Advantage: Houston, especially if Stroud is full-go.

Score prediction: Houston Texans 20, Tennessee Titans 13

These two teams have proven they're pretty evenly matched. The Titans are capable of keeping just about every game close, regardless of who plays quarterback, but give the Texans the slight edge at home with a little more to play for feeling the juice of a stretch run to the playoffs.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: Score prediction for Week 17