After struggling to execute their preferred gameplan for most of the season, the Titans ended the season the way they began it, with a win built around running the ball, avoiding turnovers, and taking care of the ball themselves for a 16-10 win against the Houston Texans.
The game, against a Texans team that did not seem likely to be trying all that effectively, started out unpromisingly, with a too-easy TD on the opening possession for Houston and another drive that seemed headed for a score until a bad run play and penalty knocked the Texans out of field goal range. From there, the Titans chipped away at the lead. A Leon Washington punt return set up the first Rob Bironas field goal, then a two-minute drive set up a Rob Bironas field goal to make it 7-6 at the half.
In the second half, the Texans decided they needed to turn the ball over. Matt Schaub overthrew Andre Johnson, and when Akeem Ayers hauled in an interception off Bernard Pollard's facemask, the Titans had the ball at the Houston 35. Seven plays later, Chris Johnson found the end zone for a 13-6 lead. Two drives later, a Schaub fumbled snap set the Titans up at the Houston 33, leading to another Bironas field goal for a 16-7 lead. The Texans got a field goal aond one last chance for a win, but Schaub airmailed a throw to Michael Griffin to end the game.
Short version: The Titans finished +3 in turnover ratio against the worst team in the league and won a one-score game at home. More wins than last year, 7-9, a better team than last year, but will it be enough to save Mike Munchak's job? I think anybody who believes the Week 16 and Week 17 wins tell you anything important about Munchak's ability to coach you didn't learn in the previous 46 games is someone I don't want making decisions on behalf of my preferred team, but we will see what Tommy Smith and Ruston Webster think.
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