The Tennessee Titans will face off against the Houston Texans in Week 12. Entering the contest, the Titans have a 2-8 record while the Texans are 7-4.
The Titans haven't won at Houston since October 2022. While the playoffs are out of the picture for the Titans, the team could at least play spoiler and give the Texans another loss.
Per BetMGM, the Titans are once again big underdogs. The Texans are favored by 8 points at home, and the over/under is set at 40.5. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Ahead of this divisional battle, let's identify 5 things to know.
Titans hold a slight lead in the all-time series
Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) runs after the catch against the Houston Texans in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Week 12, the Titans hold a 23-21 series lead over the Texans. This means the Texans could tie the all-time series with a sweep of the Titans in 2024.
It will be a tough task for the Titans to avoid that reality. The Texans are heavy favorites in this game, and the Titans have not beaten their rivals since October 2022.
The last time these rivals played, the Texans won 26-3.
Will Levis is playing his best football of late
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) barks out a play during the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
For the first half of the 2024 season, it seemed obvious that the Titans would have a new quarterback in 2025. I'm not saying that isn't the case now, but Levis has at least been playing himself back into consideration.
Against the Chargers in Week 10, Levis didn't commit any turnovers and threw for 175 yards with 2 touchdowns. In Week 11, Levis threw for 295 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The difference is that Levis's Week 11 INT was at the end of the game and wasn't a back-breaking momentum killer.
A tale of two scoring offenses
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) runs with the ball as Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58). Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
CJ Stroud and the Texans are No. 14 in the NFL in points per game. The Titans, meanwhile, are No. 28 in the same category.
The Texans score 23.5 points per game, while the Titans manage just 17.0. This just feels like another game where if the Titans' opponent scores 20, the game is over.
Passing-wise, it's more of the same. The Texans average 221.5 passing yards per game, while the Titans average just 178.4. Can Will Levis go toe-to-toe with Stroud?
Familiar faces for both teams
Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Texans added two key Titan defenders this offseason in Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair only spent one season in Nashville but endeared himself to the fans in that short time, while Autry was a fan favorite.
Now, both will be suiting up for the Titans' arch-nemesis. The Texans also roster former Titans Mario Edwards Jr. and Robert Woods. The Titans, meanwhile, have former Texan Ali Gaye on the roster.
Brian Callahan's 2nd divisional test
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 17: Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans looks on in the second quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
The Titans have already played 10 games, but only one of those has been a division game. The Titans lost to the Colts, but it was easily a game that could've been won.
Now, Brian Callahan gets another chance to play against a division opponent. Will the coach be able to notch his first AFC South win and third win overall? Or will the Titans continue plummeting down the AFC standings?