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HomeSportsTitans visit Houston for first of four consecutive Division Games

Titans visit Houston for first of four consecutive Division Games

Tennessee Titans (5-5) at Houston Texans (4-6)
Sunday, November 28th, 2010 • Noon CST • Reliant Stadium • Houston, Texas

Tennessee TitansNashville, TN – The Tennessee Titans (5-5) begin a stretch of four consecutive division games this week, as they travel to Houston to take on the Texans (4-6). Kickoff at Reliant Stadium (capacity 71,054) is scheduled for noon CST on Sunday, November 28th. The Titans have played just one division contest this season, a win at Jacksonville on October 18th.

However, five of their final six games are against AFC South foes, including three straight home games following this week’s road trip: December 5th vs. Jacksonville, December 9th vs. Indianapolis and December 19th vs. Houston. The Titans conclude their season with games at Kansas City (December 26th) and at Indianapolis (January 2nd).

At 5-5, the Titans are within one game of the 6-4 Jaguars and Colts, who are tied atop the AFC South standings. The Texans are in fourth place at 4-6. The Jaguars travel to New York to face the Giants this week, while the Colts host the San Diego Chargers.

The Broadcast

This week’s game will be televised regionally on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties, while Dan Fouts will provide analysis.

The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, analyst Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.

The game can be heard locally on 1400 AM, WJZM.

Last Week

Tennessee TitansLast week at LP Field, the Titans lost their third straight game, succumbing to the Washington Redskins in overtime by a final score of 19-16. Rookie Marc Mariani returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, and Rob Bironas booted three field goals in defeat.

Rookie Rusty Smith finished the game at quarterback for the Titans after starter Vince Young injured his right thumb in the third quarter. Kerry Collins, who has served as Young’s primary backup for most of the season, was listed as the third quarterback against the Redskins due to a calf injury. Head coach Jeff Fisher indicated after the loss that Smith will get the starting nod at Houston. If so, Smith would be the third different player to start at quarterback for the Titans in three weeks.

The Texans

The TexansThe Texans have lost four consecutive games after winning four of their first six. Last week they traveled to face the New York Jets, and despite trailing 23-7 at one point in the fourth quarter, they stormed back to take a 27-23 lead. However, with 10 seconds remaining in the game, Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez delivered a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, and the Jets prevailed 30-27.

The Texans own one of the NFL’s top offenses. Their average of 369.9 net yards per game ranks eighth in the NFL, and they have players at or near the top of several statistical categories. Running back Arian Foster, a product of the University of Tennessee, leads the league with 1,004 rushing yards and became the first player this season to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Quarterback Matt Schaub is eighth in the league with 2,574 passing yards, and his primary target, wide receiver Andre Johnson, is fifth with 813 receiving yards.

Titans-Texans Series At A Glance

  • Overall series (regular & postseason): Titans lead 12-4
  • Regular Season Series: Titans lead 12-4
  • Postseason Series: None
  • Current streak: One win by Titans
  • Titans at home vs. Texans: 6-2
  • Titans on the road vs. Texans: 6-2
  • Last Time at LP Field: Texans 34 at Titans 31 (9/20/09)
  • Last Time at Reliant Stadium: Titans 20 at Texans 17 (11/23/09)
  • First Time: Texans 10 at Titans 17 (11/10/02)
  • Jeff Fisher’s Record vs. Texans: 12-4
  • Gary Kubiak’s Record vs. Titans: 2-6
  • Jeff Fisher’s Record vs. Gary Kubiak: 6-2

What To Look For This Week

  • K Rob Bironas can extend his franchise record with a field goal in his 21st consecutive game. Last week he set the club mark with his 20th consecutive game with at least one made field goal.
  • K Rob Bironas can extend his streak of 15 consecutive field goals without a miss. The streak currently ranks fifth in franchise history, five behind the record shared by Bironas (20 in 2007-08) and Al Del Greco (20 in 1998-99). Three field goals without a miss this week would tie Bironas for fourth place all-time (18 by Del Greco, 1995-96), and four field goals would tie for third (19 by Bironas in 2007).
  • The AFC’s top two rushers are scheduled to play— Houston’s Arian Foster (first with 1,004 yards) and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson (second with 968).
  • With 32 rushing yards, RB Chris Johnson (968 rushing yards in 2010) will become the third player in franchise history with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons (Eddie George, Earl Campbell).
  • RB Chris Johnson will attempt to record his his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, the 23rd of his career and seventh of 2010. Also, it would give him nine consecutive games in November with 100 or more rushing yards, tying Earl Campbell (1978-80) for the NFL record.
  • WR Randy Moss (949 career receptions) needs three receptions to pass Andre Reed (951) for eighth in NFL history. With a touchdown reception, Moss will become the first player in NFL history to catch a touchdown pass with three different teams in a single season.
  • WR Randy Moss (14,804 career receiving yards) needs 131 receiving yards to pass Tim Brown (14,934) for fourth in NFL history.
  • Rookie QB Rusty Smith, a sixth-round draft choice from Florida Atlantic, is scheduled to make his first NFL start.
  • WR Nate Washington looks to record his third 100-yard receiving performance in a four-game span. A third 100-yard game in 2010 would make him the first Titans receiver to accomplish the feat since Drew Bennett in 2006.

Titans-Texans Series History

The Titans-Texans rivalry is in its ninth year since the expansion Texans began play and the AFC South was formed in 2002. In 16 games, the Titans are 12-4 against the Texans, including a 6-2 mark at LP Field and 6-2 record at Reliant Stadium. The teams have split the series in the last two seasons.

Last year on November 23rd, a Monday night, Reliant Stadium hosted the most recent Titans- Texans matchup. The Titans won by a score of 20-17 after Rob Bironas made a 53-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining in the game. Vince Young led the team to its fourth consecutive win after an 0-6 start to the season, and Chris Johnson rushed for 151 yards on 29 carries.

The first game between the clubs in 2009, played on September 20th, resulted in a 34-31 victory by the Texans at LP Field. Despite the loss, Johnson accumulated 284 scrimmage yards (197 rushing, 87 receiving), the second-highest total in team history. He also became the first player in NFL history to record a 90-plus yard rushing touchdown (91), another 50-plus yard rushing touchdown (57) and a 60-plus yard receiving touchdown (69) in the same game. The Titans have separate winning streaks of four games and seven games in the series, the latter of which was ended at Reliant Stadium on December 14th, 2008.

The Titans franchise has a rich and storied history with the city of Houston. Under owner K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr., the Titans existed as the Houston Oilers from 1960-96. In Houston, the Oilers won the first two American Football League Championships and made a total of 15 playoff appearances. Eight players that wore a Houston Oilers uniform are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including most recently former quarterback Warren Moon and former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews. Matthews is now an offensive assistant coach for the Texans.

The team moved to Tennessee in 1997 and in 1999 adopted the “Titans” moniker. Adams still makes his home in Houston.

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