Predictions Summary Projections by Position Projection Team Boxes

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Prediction: TEN 14, HOU 27 (Line: HOU by 7)

UPDATE: As expected, Arian Foster is expected to play after having limited practices all week.

This is the second meeting of these teams. The Texans won 30-16 in Tennessee during week eight.

The Titans are on a five game losing streak that includes the previous meeting between these teams. At 2-9 the season is long over and the season has been mostly harmed by a defense that needs attention but the new offense has made little progress while using rookies in key spots. Home games against the Giants and Jets are still good chances for a win.

QUARTERBACK : Zach Mettenberger passed for 299 yards and two scores on the Texans in week eight in his NFL debut. He’s since thrown for five scores over three games and healthy yardage in all but the road game in Baltimore.

RUNNING BACK : Dexter McCluster is currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol and only accounted for 49 yards on four catches in that first meeting with the Texans. Bishop Sankey was held to only 35 yards on nine carries but added four catches for 25 yards in that game. Sankey could see more receptions this week if McCluster does not play but he’s still never gained more than 61 rush yards in any game and scored just twice. Shonn Greene has almost no role other than coming in to hawk a touchdown from Sankey last week.

WIDE RECEIVER : The addition of Mettenberger hasn’t really caused any one receiver to suddenly improve since Justin Hunter (4-31, TD) scored on the Texans last time and Kendall Wright was held to 53 yards on three catches. Nate Washington ended with 68 yards on four receptions. In the three weeks since then, Hunter scored last week in Philadelphia with 64 yards on four catches and Washington has remained above 60 yards in all but one game and scored once on his 80-yard catch versus the Steelers.

TIGHT END : Delanie Walker caught four passes for 37 yards with one score against the Texans in week eight. He missed week 11 with a concussion but returned to post a season best 155 yards on five catches against the Eagles last week. But Walker spent almost the entire season with no more than 30 or 40 yards per game.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Texans have allowed around two scores to nearly every opponent this year. This is only three weeks since the previous meeting and the Titans don’t play better on the road than they do at home. None of these Titans are more than a risky moderate play.

The Texans opted to go with Ryan Mallett two games ago and he’s now out for the season with a pectoral injury. Mallett had not done much in his two games though they were his first after three years in the league. So it is back to normal for the offense that does get to face these Titans and two meetings with the Jaguars for excellent chances for more wins.

QUARTERBACK : Now that Ryan Mallett is out for the year, the Texans are likely to turn back to Ryan Fitzpatrick though they could take a look at rookie Tom Savage at some point. The Texans also just signed Thad Lewis for depth. Fitzpatrick threw for 227 yards and one score in Tennessee this year.

RUNNING BACK : Arian Foster rang up 151 yards and two scores as a runner and added four catches for 22 yards and a third score as a receiver in Tennessee this season. But Foster has been out for two weeks with a groin injury that may affect him this week as well. HC Bill O’Brien would not confirm his status so it will be later in the week before more is known. Alfred Blue racked up 156 yards on 36 carries in Cleveland but was held to just 46 yards on 16 runs by the Bengals last week. Facing the Titans will be profitable for whichever back gets the start this week. I will assume that Foster can return and update as needed.

WIDE RECEIVER : Deandre Hopkins ended with 95 yards on five receptions while Andre Johnson caught seven passes for 55 yards versus the Titans this year. Hopkins has been good for around 80 yards or more when facing a secondary as soft as the Titans. Johnson has been less productive and has just one score all year. Of the six touchdowns by wideouts, Hopkins owns four of them and the only three 100 yard games.

TIGHT END : There were no tight end receptions when these teams met in week eight.

MATCH TO THE DEFENSE: The Texans won handily last time and though Mallett is out, Fitzpatrick was the starter in the previous win anyway. The rushing effort was huge in the previous win and sure be just as good now that it is a home game. Hopkins is always a risky start but with upside. The back – Foster or Blue – is the one to start this week depending on who gets the start. Blue accounted for 66 total yards as the #2 back in week eight.

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