The Tennessee Titans are coming off a disappointing 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in a game many observers believe was taken away by the officiating crew. While there were some questionable calls, the Titans must play cleaner and not make unforced errors.
This week, the 2-8 Titans will take on the Houston Texans in an AFC South battle. The Texans sit atop the division and are coming off a decisive victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Things may look bleak for Titans fans, but there are some reasons for optimism heading into Week 12, and here are three of them.
Passing defense
The Titans rank first in the league in passing defense and are inside the top five in all major categories against the pass. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has not been as dynamic as he was as a rookie and is going through somewhat of a sophomore slump. If the Titans’ secondary can hold up against wide receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell, it’s possible to force Stroud into some mistakes, giving the Titans a chance.
Will Levis
Levis has looked like a different quarterback since returning from his shoulder injury. He’s not only protecting the ball, he’s making better decisions. More importantly, he is attacking teams vertically and having success. If the offensive line can hold up against the Texans’ pass rush, Levis has a chance to lead the Titans to an upset.
It’s a divisional matchup
Games within a division are different and are almost always closer than they should be when looking solely at the statistics or the standings. This AFC South battle should be no different. The talent differential between these two teams is not as wide as their records may indicate, and the Titans are growing every week. This could be the week they break through, especially against a Texans team that is coming off a huge win against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Believe it or not, the Titans have not been eliminated from playoff contention and still have something to play for. There is belief in the locker room and that could be a recipe for an upset on Sunday.
