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Ben Arthur
AFC South Reporter
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It would’ve been easy to count out the Texans.
No C.J. Stroud. No Nico Collins. No Tank Dell. No George Fant. No Blake Cashman. No Will Anderson Jr. No Tavierre Thomas.
That’s Houston’s quarterback, top two wide receivers, its right tackle, top off-ball linebacker, its No. 2 edge rusher and one of its better defensive backs.
But the Texans found a way on Sunday.
“Our guys didn’t blink,” coach DeMeco Ryans said.
Houston overcame a 13-0 first-half deficit to stun Tennessee with a 19-16 overtime victory at Nissan Stadium, thanks to a 54-yard field goal from kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. It kept the Texans (8-6) in eighth place in the AFC, one spot outside of the playoffs, and eliminated the Titans (5-9) from postseason contention on a day they sported their Oilers throwback uniforms, worn when the franchise was in Houston.
The Texans defense stood up in a big way, taking pressure off a shorthanded offense. After giving up an 83-yard touchdown drive to start the game, Houston held Tennessee to a field goal on its final 10 possessions. The Texans sacked Will Levis seven times, including 2.5 from defensive end Jonathan Greenard, who brought his career-high sack total to 12.5. Cornerback Steven Nelson also picked off the rookie quarterback in the third quarter. He was one of three Texans defenders — Derek Stingley Jr. and Jalen Pitre being the others — to have two pass breakups.
The biggest thing the Texans did was neutralize the Titans’ top offensive weapons. Derrick Henry had 16 carries for nine rushing yards, his fewest in a game since October 2017. Ex-Texan DeAndre Hopkins was held to two catches for 21 yards, his lowest receiving total in more than two months.
“The D-line was hunting,” running back Devin Singletary said. “The DBs was locking up. When we needed them the most, they kept showing up.”
With Stroud sidelined, veteran quarterback Case Keenum got…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/case-keenum-texans-defense-step-up-to-stun-titans-in-ot-our-guys-didnt-blink
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Publish date : 2023-12-18 00:15:21
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