NASHVILLE – The Titans let another one slip away on Sunday.
After building an early lead, the Titans were unable to finish against the Texans.
Instead of celebrating back-to-back wins, the Titans left Nissan Stadium disappointed after coming up short in a 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans.
Even tougher to digest: With the loss, the Titans were eliminated from playoff contention.
“We felt like we had a chance to be close to slipping in if we won out,” Titans running back Derrick Henry said. “It’s tough, knowing we have three (games) left. There’s definitely a sour taste in your mouth. But there’s three games and we have to try to do the best we can to win those, and finish the season on a positive note.”
The Titans dropped to 5-9 on the season. Coming of an emotional win on Monday night at Miami, the Titans had a chance to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Titans let a 13-0 lead slip away, and saw the Texans win it on a field goal in overtime.
“I don’t expect anybody to tuck their tail or pack it up,” linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair said. “End of the day, we’ve got three games left and this 2023 group that we have, it’s going to be the last time that we get to play together for these last three games. And we got to take full advantage of it, take it one day at a time, show back up to work, try to finish the season strong.”
Titans quarterback Will Levis threw for 199 yards in the contest, while also running for a touchdown in the contest.
But Levis was also sacked seven times, and he came up limping after getting sacked in overtime.
Henry ran for just nine yards on 16 carries on a day when the Titans couldn’t generate any consistent momentum on offense.
The Texans rallied to force overtime, and then they won it on a field goal in overtime as time expired.
“I don’t think we’re ready to discuss that,” Coach Mike Vrabel said of his team being eliminated from playoff contention. “I think we’re just trying to get back, get healthy. We had a lot of guys play far less than 100 percent, which we know that’s going to happen where we’re at in the season. A lot of fight, a lot of competitiveness, rely on our leaders, and make sure that we do everything we can to give them an opportunity to feel confident coming into the game and play with great effort.”
The Titans started out fast.
After forcing a three-and-out on defense, the offense drove the ball 83 yards on 11 plays and capped it off with a one-yard touchdown run by Levis, who completed long completions to Treylon Burks (37 yards) and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (33 yards) on the drive.
Early in the second quarter, Titans defensive back Elijah Molden intercepted Texans quarterback Case Keenum, and he returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. The pick-6 made it 13-0 Titans at the 13:56 mark of the second quarter.
The Titans led 13-3 at the half after holding the Texans to a field goal on their final possession of the half.
Midway through the third quarter, following an interception thrown by Levis, Tennessee’s defense stiffened up once again, holding the Texans to a short field goal, which made it 13-6 at the 6:27 mark.
A third field goal by Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made it 13-9 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.
The Titans got a big stop early in the third quarter on a sack by defensive lineman Denico Autry. It was Autry’s 10th sack of the season, which established a new career high.
A 45-yard field goal by kicker Nick Folk made it 16-9 Titans with 7:28 left.
But the Texans drive the field and scored on a three-yard touchdown pass from Keenum to receiver Noah Brown to tie the game at 16-16 with 3:03 left.
The game then went to overtime, and the Titans weren’t able to win it despite having two offensive possessions.
“It’s very frustrating,” tackle Dillon Radunz said. “Our defense kept us in that game the entire time, and not being able to execute, it’s tough. Our defense gave us plenty of opportunities to win that game, and we flat-out failed to execute.”
The Titans return to action next Sunday against the Seahawks at Nissan Stadium.