Titans at Texans
The Tennessee Titans plan to have their muscle in the backfield as they attempt to strengthen their bid for the playoffs. Rugged Derrick Henry is expected to return from a one-game absence on Sunday in the Titans' do-or-die contest against the host Houston Texans.
An ailing hamstring reduced Henry to the role of a spectator in Tennessee's 38-28 setback to New Orleans last week, but the league's third-ranked rusher (1,329 yards) is trending in a positive direction after being listed as a full participant in Thursday's practice. "Anytime you can get some time to rest it's a good thing. I love football. I love playing the game. I'm definitely ready," the 6-foot-3, 247-pound Henry said. Henry rushed for 86 yards in the Titans' 24-21 loss to Houston on Dec. 15, a decision that helped guide the Texans to a fourth AFC South title in five years. Houston may elect to rest its starters, however, if Kansas City locks up the No. 3 seed with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in an earlier game on Sunday.
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Titans -3.5. O/U: 45
ABOUT THE TITANS (8-7): Ryan Tannehill recorded his third straight three-touchdown performance by throwing for a trio of scores versus New Orleans. "Ryan continues to do his job and help us find ways to win," coach Mike Vrabel said. "I think there are things that we will take out of (Sunday) that are really positive, like most of the other players. There are things that we have to take away that we have to get fixed (this) week." Rookie A.J. Brown, who rushed for a 49-yard touchdown against the Saints, was limited to just one catch for 34 yards in that contest after erupting for a season-high eight receptions in his 114-yard effort versus the Texans the previous week. Tight end Jonnu Smith has found the end zone in two of his last three games while recording 117 scrimmage yards (60 receiving, 57 rushing) in the previous meeting with Houston.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (10-5): Deshaun Watson has tormented Tennessee thus far in his NFL career with 12 touchdowns (10 passing, two rushing) in four meetings, but he is coming off a subpar performance after throwing for 184 yards and one interception in a 23-20 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday. DeAndre Hopkins was able to reel in at least five catches versus the Buccaneers for the 15th straight time this season, joining New Orleans' Michael Thomas as the lone wideouts to accomplish that feat in 2019. Fellow receiver Kenny Stills collected a pair of touchdown grabs in the previous meeting with the Titans. Carlos Hyde has rushed for a score in back-to-back games and resides just 43 yards shy of becoming the first Texans running back since Arian Foster to reach 1,100 yards in a season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Houston would capture the No. 3 seed in the AFC on Sunday with a win and a Kansas City loss by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs.
2. Tennessee can still claim a playoff berth with a loss on Sunday, but it will need Baltimore to defeat Pittsburgh and Indianapolis to lose to Jacksonville.
3. Texans DE J.J. Watt returned to practice this week and appears to be close to a return following a two-month absence after tearing a pectoral muscle against Oakland on Oct. 27.