The final game of the year at Nissan Stadium is here as the Tennessee Titans get the Houston Texans in the rematch. The inactives are out for today’s game, and here they are:
HOUSTON TEXANS: OT Oday Aboushi, TE Garrett Graham, QB Brian Hoyer, S Rahim Moore, DB Darryl Morris, WR Cecil Shorts, LB Justin Tuggle
TENNESSEE TITANS: S Josh Aubrey, WR Damaris Johnson, QB Marcus Mariota, DE Ropati Pitoitua, OT Jeremiah Poutasi, WR Andrew Turzilli, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
For the Titans, Zach Mettenberger gets his fourth career start against the Texans. The Titans have scored 6 points in the first half of those three games, and one of those field goals came on a three-and-kick after a long punt return. Finding a way to get some first half production would really help the Titans if they’re trying to win today’s game. The return of Kendall Wright will help in that area. A customary preview would mention something about how the Titans need to better protect Mettenberger; that’s in some sense a fool’s errand. It’s Week 16, and the offensive line more or less is what it is. Playing Joe Looney at center over Andy Gallik is a change of degree, not of type; the Titans are still starting an inexperienced center, a pretty raw left guard, and a left tackle who had some awful losses in the first matchup between the teams, in front of a quarterback who has a tendency to hold the ball and take sacks. My base expectation is that Mettenberger will go down about every 10 dropbacks; that’s a high rate, but not unsustainable if you’re making plays (see Wilson, Russell, for the best current example).
Beyond Mariota, there are no notable inactives or other injuries. The IR’d players are gone, of course, but with the obvious Starting QB exception, the Titans are as healthy as you could expect for Week 16.
For the Texans, we’ll see Brandon Weeden play. He “won” last week’s game against the Colts, but he’s still Brandon Weeden. I haven’t seen enough of him in Houston (with the holiday, I didn’t get to watch in detail last week’s probable AFC South-decider) to say just how well he’s playing. In Dallas earlier this year, he ate the ball and threw too many checkdowns when he wasn’t eating it. He threw the ball downfield a bit more in Cleveland, though of course he had Josh Gordon there. His best bet for productivity is probably letting De’Andre Hopkins and maybe also Jaelen Strong (who had the winning TD last week) win at the catch point against Tennessee defensive backs who have struggled there.
Since it’s the final home game, a number of Titans are potentially playing their last home game. Craig Stevens is the longest-tenured member of those on expiring contracts, while Michael Griffin will be a potential cap casualty again this offseason notwithstanding Ray Horton’s recent praise for his play. On a team without many marquee players, the third biggest name potentially playing his final home game may be Sammie Hill, whose deal is up this year. Beyond them, the big names seem likely to return unless the new permanent head coach decides to clean house.
Holiday obligations will likely prevent me from seeing all of the game live, the first time that’s happened since the crucial home game against the Steelers late in 2008. Recap up at some point after the game. If I can see the second half and get a feel for what I missed, that will be relatively soon after the conclusion of the game. If I cannot, then it will be as soon as I can watch the replay on Game Pass late tonight.
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