By Rich Bergeron
The Titans are holding out for a hero this Sunday with Rookie QB Zach Mettenberger starting for his struggling 2-5 Tennessee team in a week 8 clash against the 3-4 Houston Texans. It may just take a miracle for Mettenberger to take charge of this team and snag a win against a Texans team that’s been hit or miss and not 100 percent healthy in recent weeks.
The Houston Texans have been unable to take advantage of their number one pick, Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who suffered a torn meniscus in the team’s opening game. The resulting surgery typically takes four to six weeks to heal up, and Clowney is now outside of that window and could see limited action this Sunday. Unfortunately for the Texans, Clowney isn’t the only player on the Texans with some bumps and bruises. Offensive standouts Arian Foster (126 carries, 615 yards, 5 TDs, 20 receptions, 144 yards, TD) and Andre Johnson (39 receptions, 496 yards, TD) sat out of some key games due to injuries, but Foster is now back and Johnson is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. Sixth-year Linebacker Brain Cushing is expected to see limited action at best, if he plays at all Sunday. He’s already compiled 50 combined tackles and a sack, so his absence will definitely make a difference if he can’t play.
NFL Betting Line Texans vs Titans
- Point Spread: Titans +3.0 -105, Texans -3.0 -115
- Money Line: Titans +145, Texans -165
- Over/Under: 41.5 point -110
Every time Foster sees 20 carries, he romps for more than 100 yards, so if he has the chance to run, the Texans will make the most of his 4.9-yard average. The Titans are 21st against the pass and 22nd against the run so far this season, so Foster and Alfred Blue (47 carries, 179 yards, 4 receptions, 37 yards, TD) could have some huge numbers on Sunday. Whether it all adds up to a win or not depends more on Ryan Fitzpatrick (125-192, 1,530 yards, 8 TDs, 7 INTs) this week than any other offensive player. Fitzpatrick needs to fully mature as a starting quarterback and take this team on his shoulders to the playoffs. It starts with trouncing the division-rival Titans to take a step closer to the 5-2 Indianapolis Colts, now in control of the AFC South. He needs to get the ball to his most dynamic receivers. Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins (31 receptions, 474 yards, 3 TDs) should be targeted early and often.
The Titans have been fairly miserable since a week one upset of the Kansas City Chiefs. They dropped their next four games to Dallas, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Cleveland. Their only win since that opening day magic for the Titans was a 16-14 week 6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans lost by the same two-point margin last week thanks to a clutch drive put together by Washington Redskins Backup QB Colt Mccoy.
Part of the team’s suffering is due to their dismal offense, which is the reason why a rookie quarterback will replace the other two starters: Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst. The two combined for 124 completions so far for a mirror-image 764 yards each. Locker has four touchdown throws to go with four interceptions while Whitehurst has five touchdown tosses and two picks. The duo has the team ranked 28th in the NFL in average passing yards per game (209.9). So, it’s up to a 6th-round draft pick from LSU to lead this team to a win Sunday and improve that average. Mettenberger has a virtual blank slate in the NFL and can punch his own ticket to glory if he steps up and outshines the two veterans. Locker is reportedly now the main backup with Whitehurst demoted to third-string.
The Titans running game is a bit better than what the team manages through the air with Bishop Sankey and Shonn Greene combining for 110 carries, 457 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. The rushing game is 17th in the league. The main areas of concern is the fact that neither back contributes much to the passing game. They have zero touchdowns through the air, and Greene has zero catches. Sankey has just four catches for 39 yards. If Mettenberger hopes to avoid the blitz, he’ll need to turn to both backs in the flat or directly off a block to shake off the charging defenders.
The Texans are coming off one of the worst possible outcomes they could have expected going into their game against Pittsburgh last Monday. By some miracle, the Steelers scored 24 points in around three minutes after a strong defensive stand by the Texans prior to the collapse. The Texans lost 23-30 in a game they had in hand, but without a little luck and a few fortunate circumstances falling on the side of the Steelers, the Texans would be 4-3 right now. Luck shouldn’t be a factor this time out.
Prediction: The Texans win 27-17 thanks to strong performances on both sides of the ball. Mettenberger is more accurate than Locker and Whitehurst, but he just can’t capitalize on red zone opportunities. Fitzpatrick avoids an interception this week and throws touchdowns to Hopkins and Johnson. Foster gets the third score on a goal-line stance. The Titans backfield is listless and can’t help Mettenberger become an overnight legend in this one. He performs under pressure, but not at the level it will take to beat the Texans. Mettenberger runs for his own score in the first quarter and passes for another in the fourth. The middle of the game is where the young QB runs into trouble as JJ Watt warms up and gets in his face. The Titans can only manage a field goal in the third and are shut out in the second quarter.
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