The Houston Texans made some crucial mistakes late in their game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday that may have cost them a win.
The Texans were trailing 23-17 late in the third quarter at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Their defense came up with a huge play when cornerback Jimmie Ward intercepted a pass from Titans quarterback Will Levis and returned it for a touchdown. The Texans went up 24-23 and extended their lead to 27-23 with a field goal two drives later. Things quickly went downhill from there.
First, Houston completely blew a coverage and allowed tight end Chig Okonkwo to break free for a 70-yard touchdown:
Chig Okonkwo gets in open space for a 70-yard TD!
: #TENvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/98scOwfisp— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024
That gave the Titans a 30-27 lead. CJ Stroud and the Texans drove into field goal range and had a chance to tie the game with 1:56 remaining, but Ka’imi Fairbairn shanked a 28-yard chip shot wide left:
NO GOOD!!!!!! OH NO TEXANS!!! pic.twitter.com/VyQh6aY4pj
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) November 24, 2024
The Texans still had three timeouts left after the missed field goal. Their defense came up with a stop and they got the ball back with 1:29 remaining. Houston’s drive started at their own 8-yard line, however, and Stroud took a big sack on 2nd-and-10. Stroud was then forced out of the back of the end zone for a safety on third down.
SAFETY DANCE @Titans defense continues to make big plays pic.twitter.com/lUltpoQJFN
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) November 24, 2024
Houston went on to lose 32-27 in a game in which they were heavily favored. The win was just the third of the year for Tennessee, while the Texans fell to 7-5.
The Texans remain in the lead in the AFC South, but their loss to the Titans is the type of game — and self-inflicted wound — that could come back to haunt them late in the year.
