Houston Texans Games by Difficulty: No. 14

As we continue with our countdown we put the second game against the Tennessee Titans at number 14. This is somewhat of an unknown because it is a week 17 game, and perhaps there will be a playoff spot or playoff positioning at stake.

While Marcus Mariota will see the Texans for the first time in week four, hopefully he can be on the field for season finale–you want to compete against the best, particularly as you (hopefully) ramp up for the playoffs. The second year signal caller showed some promise last season despite minimal surrounding talent. But the Texans will also have a better read on Mariota, and we’ll know how well DeMarco Murray fits as a Titan after his disastrous 2015 season in Philadelphia.

Even though Nashville winters are fairly temperate, the potential exists for it to be a cold day in early January. The Titans will try to establish their identity as a physical team, and will put pressure on the Texans front of J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork and the winner of the other defensive end spot. But the Texans will do the same, so I’d expect to see a lot of touches for both Murray and Lamar Miller in this game.

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The Texans have owned the series history with the Titans recently, winning seven of the last eight meetings overall. However, the Texans have a losing record at Tennessee all-time, down 6-8. But the Texans have turned the tide recently, winning four of the last five in Nashville.

The Titans dominated the series in Nashville early on as they won six of the first seven meetings in Nashville. Houston got their first win in the Music City in 2004, but wouldn’t get another one until 2009. The Texans have actually scored more points in the 14 meetings than the Titans have despite their losing record in those games at 301 to 282–this past season’s 34-6 gave the Texans the edge in that category.

By the end of the season, Brock Osweiler will be more in tuned with the offense and should look better in this meeting than he did in the week four meeting. The AFC South should be wide open though, so who knows, maybe this game will have playoff implications for both clubs. But I figure it should have postseason implications for the Texans.

Come back tomorrow as we reveal number 13 on the countdown.