Titans avoid shutout, only lose to Texans 34-6

There was high drama after the two minute warning in today’s final game at Nissan Stadium of the 2015 season. The drama related not to the outcome of the game, which had been long decided, but whether the Titans would get shut out at home for the first time in the stadium of the history and the first time in the history of the franchise since the 1976 Steelers did it. But Zach Mettenberger found Tre McBride in the back of the end zone on fourth and goal to make it 34-6. The two-point conversion was no good, and today’s game just tied the 2010 Kerry Collins-led loss to the Jaguars as the fewest points by the Titans in Adelphia/Coliseum/LP Field/Nissan Stadium history.

Today’s game, well, it was about what we came to expect from the 2015 Titans. Antonio Andrews fumbled on the first possession, and Houston safety Quintin Demps returned it for a 7-0 lead. Harry Douglas fumbled a punt later in the first quarter, and the Texans made it 10-0. J.R. Tavai sacked Brandon Weeden to start a drive at the Houston 25, but a Byron Bell holding penalty meant they were attempting a field goal, at least until an illegal substitution penalty knocked them out of field goal range. Brandon Weeden’s first career rushing touchdown extended the lead to 17-0. Another possession that started in Texans territory went three-and-punt. Second half kickoff, Texans go 80 yards, 24-0. Antonio Andrews had a third down checkdown ripped away from him, short field, TD grab over B.W. Webb, 31-0 midway through the third quarter, and if I’d watched the first half, I would have gone to do something else.

The Titans finally cracked Texans territory after starting on their own half of the field early in the fourth quarter, but J.J. Watt knocked the ball out of Mettenberger’s hands on third-and-goal to snuff out that chance and set up the late drama after an exchange of punts.

News and notes, mostly box score-related since I missed most of the competitive portion of the game:

• Mettenberger finished with 234 yards on 51 passing attempts. The halftime total was 64 yards on 24 attempts. But he was sacked just the one time, on Watt’s forced fumble. He was hit 8 times, though.
• We finally got a David Cobb game, as he got 7 of the Titans’ 11 rushing attempts. Just 18 yards. When there’s nothing there, he gets nothing. When there’s a little something there, he gets just that, but it doesn’t seem like anything more.
• Delanie Walker led the team with 9 catches-just 59 yards, though. Harry Douglas had a team-leading 79 receiving yards. Tre McBride’s touchdown was his second catch of the game and of his NFL career.
• Michael Griffin led the team with 11 tackles (9 solo). Tavai’s was the only sack as the Texans attempted just 26 passes versus 42 official runs. Backup QB B.J. Daniels played a fair amount, in spots and late.
• With the Titans defensive backs, “just throwing the ball up and letting the receiver make a play” remains a viable strategy.
• Yes, 52 passes and 11 rushes sounds like it comes right out of the Ken Whisenhunt game-handling manual. But with the Titans run game, theoretically and as applied, I just can’t get myself worked up about it.
• Two notable injuries on offense: Taylor Lewan suffered a concussion, and Kendall Wright was knocked out with a knee injury. Byron Bell and Brian Orakpo both left the game but returned quickly.

Snap report Monday, and I’ll finally get a post up about Ruston Webster this week before the season finale in Indianapolis next Sunday. No, I will not be making the trip, so this will be the first Titans season since 2005 I do not see them play in person.