With both teams essentially eliminated from playoff contention, the only intrigue left in Sunday’s AFC South matchup between the Houston Texans and host Tennessee Titans is the potential for Round 3 of Johnson vs. Finnegan.
All eyes will be watching this battle between 5-8 teams to see if Texans star receiver Andre Johnson – the quite superstar who lost his cool three weeks ago – will once again be pushed to the limit by instigating Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan.
The two have had a simmering rivalry for years, and it came to a head in Week 12 when Johnson, after being baited by Finnegan the entire game, erupted in rage, igniting a one-side scuffle.
The former University of Miami star ripped off Finnegan’s helmet after a running play and swung him to the ground before landing three deadly accurate haymakers.
Johnson caught nine passes for 56 yards and a touchdown against Finnegan before both players were ejected in the Texans’ 20-0 win.
Finnegan may have been frustrated, as Johnson suggested after the game. The All-Pro receiver has gotten the better of Finnegan, recording 34 receptions for 490 yards with five touchdowns in the last four meetings.
Surprisingly, both players were fined $25,000 in lieu of a suspension. That was Round 2 of Johnson vs. Finnegan. Last season, Johnson was fined $7,500 for throwing Finnegan to the ground by his facemask.
Johnson apologized for his Week 12 actions and vowed it would never happen again. Still, there is a slight possibility of another altercation.
That’s more than can be said for either team’s playoff chances. Both are three games back of AFC South leader Jacksonville (8-5) and will be officially eliminated if the Jaguars beat Indianapolis this week.
The Texans’ only win in the last seven weeks was that brawl-marred victory over Tennessee on Nov. 28. The Titans, meanwhile, are looking to avoid their longest losing streak since an 11-game slide in 1994, when they were the Houston Oilers.
The Texans were holding on to slim hopes of reaching the postseason until a crushing 34-28 overtime loss to Baltimore on Monday night. Houston rallied from a 21-point deficit, but Josh Wilson picked off Matt Schaub in overtime and returned it 12 yards for the game-winning score.
Tennessee, which has lost six straight, is coming off a 30-28 loss to Indianapolis last Thursday. Kerry Collins threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in his second straight start since returning from a calf injury.
Collins sat out the first meeting between these teams and third-stringer Rusty Smith threw three interceptions in the loss.
The Titans have dropped three of the last four meetings.