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Tennessee Titans steamrolled by Houston Texans as Will Levis injures foot

nick suss and nick gray, nashville tennessean
·7 min read

Two of the present and future faces of the AFC South are expected to face each other for the first time Sunday when the Tennessee Titans visit the Houston Texans.

The Titans (5-10) face the Texans (8-7) in their final road game of the season at NRG Stadium on Sunday (noon, FOX). Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is expected to start after missing two games because of a concussion, and Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis is "in line" to start after missing last week's game because of an ankle injury.

Follow below for live score updates for the Titans' game against the Texans.

Tennessee Titans score vs. Houston Texans: Live NFL updates

FINAL: Texans 26, Titans 3

As bad of a performance as the Titans have had in the Mike Vrabel era ends with a 26-3 losing margin in Houston. The Titans are 0-5 in the AFC South and 5-11 overall with one game remaining.

Tennessee's season finale is at home against Jacksonville, with TV and time yet to be determined.

Titans get 7 chances inside Houston 10-yard line, come up empty

The Titans get seven chances in a goal-to-go situation, helped out by an unnecessary roughness penalty by Desmond King on a late hit on an already sacked Tannehill.

Yet, the Titans turn the ball over on downs anyway. Tannehill throws two incompletions in tight coverage to end the drive with no points.

Texans lead 23-3 late in the third quarter. Kevin Rader limped off during that sequence, leaving the Titans with Chig Okonkwo and little else at tight end.

HALFTIME: Texans 20, Titans 3

Nick Folk drills a 53-yard field goal as time expired following a nice Ryan Tannehill throw to DeAndre Hopkins for 18 yards just before the clock struck 0:00.

That solid sequence took place after Tannehill was sacked on back-to-back plays by Will Anderson, who beat Andre Dillard cleanly each time.

The drive began with a nice throw from Tannehill to Chris Moore for 32 yards. Tannehill is 6-for-6 for 78 yards.

Titans run game is again an issue, with Derrick Henry carrying five times for 11 yards and Tyjae Spears totaling one yard on four carries in the first half.

Colton Dowell out with knee injury

Titans rookie receiver Colton Dowell is out with a knee injury suffered while covering a punt in the second quarter.

The Lebanon native was a seventh round pick out of UT Martin in April.

Texans 20, Titans 0, 4:17 left second quarter: Texans add FG

After the Titans go 3-and-out in Tannehill's first drive, Houston adds a 38-yard Ka'imi Fairbairn field goal. Nico Collins is up to six catches for 65 yards and had two catches for first downs on the drive.

Nothing else yet regarding Will Levis from the Titans.

Some injury updates for other players: Daniel Brunskill is questionable to return with an ankle injury. Colton Dowell limped off the field with an apparent right leg injury after covering a punt.

Will Levis injures foot, questionable to return

Will Levis is eventually carted off to the locker room after walking around on the Titans sideline before play resumed.

The team announced Levis is questionable to return with a foot injury. Ryan Tannehill is in at QB for the Titans.

Texans 17, Titans 0, 10:02 left second quarter: Texans defensive TD on strip-sack of Will Levis

From bad to worse for the Titans. On the first play of the next drive, Will Levis is crushed by Jerry Hughes and fumbles. Sheldon Rankins recovers the fumble and returns it 13 yards for a touchdown.

Levis slowly walks to the sideline in some discomfort. Tennessee is in danger of getting blown out.

Texans 10, Titans 0, 10:10 left second quarter: Undermanned Titans defense struggling against C.J. Stroud, Texans offense

The Texans take advantage of the running into the kicker penalty, driving down and scoring on a C.J. Stroud 12-yard touchdown pass to Brevin Jordan. PAT good.

Devin Singletary's 24-yard run to midfield was key, as was Nico Collins' receptions for 13 and 10 yards. Titans pass rush has yet to impact Stroud.

13 plays, 94 yards in 7:30.

End of the first quarter: Texans 3, Titans 0

The two teams trade punts, except Caleb Murphy gives Houston a first down with a running into the kicker penalty. Houston's drive will continue into the second quarter.

Elsewhere in the AFC South, Indianapolis leads 7-3 over the Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville leads 3-0 over Carolina.

Texans 3, Titans 0, 7:16 left first quarter: Methodical Texans drive ends in a field goal

Houston moves methodically downfield until they get into a goal-to-go situation. Titans secondary was very good in coverage on 2nd and 3rd and goal.

Ka'imi Fairbairn's 28-yard field goal is good, and Houston leads 3-0. C.J. Stroud was 5-of-7 for 38 yards on the drive, the two incompletions coming at the end of the drive.

Roger McCreary left the game with Titans medical personnel after making a tackle early in the drive but returned to the game after a visit to the injury tent.

Titans offense goes 3-and-out after Treylon Burks drop

On second down, Will Levis throws a deep ball right on the hands of Treylon Burks, who can't hang on. It's a bad drop on a possible 40-plus yard gain on the opening drive. Instead, Levis throws incomplete on third down and Tennessee punts the ball away.

Titans get the ball first

Houston wins the coin toss and defers. Will Levis and the Titans offense is up first.

Will Levis active, set to start for Titans

Will Levis is active and ready to go as the Titans' starting quarterback on Sunday. Levis was moving around well during a pregame workout and throwing session.

Malik Willis is the No. 3 quarterback before the Titans. Tre Avery is inactive, as is offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton. Here's the full inactive list for Sunday's game.

Tennessee Titans inactive players vs. Houston Texans

What channel is the Titans-Texans game on today?

Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans will be broadcast live on FOX, with streaming options available on Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Chris Myers will handle play-by-play duties for FOX, with Robert Smith as the color commentator and Jen Hale as the sideline reporter.

MORE: Watch Titans vs. Panthers live on Fubo (free trial)

Titans vs. Texans series history

Series record: The Titans lead the all-time series 23-20.

Last time: The Texans beat the Titans 19-16 on Dec. 17, 2023.

Last Texans win: 19-16 on Dec. 17, 2023

Last Titans win: 17-10 on Oct. 30, 2022

Titans vs. Texans start time

  • Date: Dec. 31

  • Time: Noon

  • Location: NRG Stadium (Houston)

The Titans and Texans will kick off at noon at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Titans vs. Texans betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Dec. 29

  • Spread: Texans (-3.5)

  • Over/under: 42.5

  • Moneyline: Titans +155 | Texans -190

Titans 2023 schedule

All times CT

  • Sept. 10: at New Orleans (L, 16-15)

  • Sept. 17: L.A. Chargers (W, 27-24 OT)

  • Sept. 24: at Cleveland (L, 27-3)

  • Oct. 1: Cincinnati (W, 27-3)

  • Oct. 8: at Indianapolis (L, 23-16)

  • Oct. 15: Baltimore (L 24-16)

  • Oct. 29: Atlanta (W, 28-23)

  • Nov. 2: at Pittsburgh (L, 20-16)

  • Nov. 12: at Tampa Bay (L, 20-6)

  • Nov. 19: at Jacksonville (L, 34-14)

  • Nov. 26: Carolina (W, 17-10)

  • Dec. 3: Indianapolis (L, 31-28 OT)

  • Dec. 11: at Miami (W, 28-27)

  • Dec. 17: Houston (L, 19-16 OT)

  • Dec. 24: Seattle (L, 20-17)

  • Dec. 31: at Houston, noon, Fox

  • TBD: Jacksonville, TBD, TBD

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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, @nickusss.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans live NFL score updates vs. Houston Texans