HOUSTON (Interstat) — The Houston Texans’ defense delivered a dominant, suffocating performance, and the offense finally found the end zone in a commanding 26-0 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

A crowd of 70,398 watched as the Texans, now 1-3, secured their first win of the season by completely shutting down a winless Titans team that fell to 0-4. The game was a far cry from the offensive shootout projected by pregame analytics, which had favored Houston by 6.5 points with an over/under of 38.5.

For three quarters, the contest was a defensive slog defined by missed opportunities for both sides. The Texans managed only a pair of Ka’imi Fairbairn field goals—from 47 yards in the first quarter and 43 yards in the second—to take a 6-0 lead into halftime. The Titans, meanwhile, saw their chances evaporate with two missed field goals from Joey Slye, from 41 and 43 yards, both sailing wide right.

The Texans’ offense, which had sputtered in the red zone for the first three periods, finally broke through early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback C.J. Stroud capped a methodical 15-play, 95-yard drive that bridged the third and fourth quarters with a 12-yard touchdown pass to running back Woody Marks. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 12-0.

The game’s pivotal moment came on the ensuing Titans possession. Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward, under constant pressure all afternoon, attempted a deep pass intended for Elic Ayomanor. The ball was intercepted by Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. at the Houston 36-yard line, and he returned it 20 yards to the Tennessee 44.

“That was the spark we needed,“ a Texans spokesperson said of the interception. “The defense set the tone all day, and that play really sealed it.“

Capitalizing on the turnover, the Houston offense needed just six plays to find the end zone again. Stroud connected with wide receiver Jayden Higgins on a 24-yard touchdown strike. Fairbairn’s extra point extended the lead to 19-0.

The Texans put the final exclamation point on the victory with 4:51 remaining in the game. Marks, who was a versatile weapon out of the backfield all day, broke through for an 18-yard touchdown run, his second score of the day. Fairbairn’s extra point provided the final 26-0 margin.

Stroud, the Inland Empire, California, native, was efficient and effective, completing 22 of 28 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns. He also added 11 yards on four carries. His favorite target was Nico Collins, who hauled in four passes for 79 yards. Tight end Dalton Schultz caught five passes for 30 yards.

The Texans’ ground game was led by the duo of Marks and Nick Chubb. Marks, from Atlanta, Georgia, carried the ball 17 times for 69 yards and a touchdown, while also catching four passes for 50 yards and another score. Chubb, of Cedartown, Georgia, added 47 yards on 13 carries.

The story of the game, however, was the Houston defense. They held the Titans to just 108 total passing yards and consistently harassed Ward, sacking him three times. Linebacker Danielle Hunter from Katy, Texas, led the charge with two of those sacks. The unit also recorded six tackles for loss and limited Tennessee to 2 of 12 on third-down conversions.

Ward, a West Columbia, Texas, product, had a difficult day, completing only 10 of 26 passes for 108 yards and one critical interception. He was also the Titans’ leading rusher with 22 yards on two scrambles. Running back Tony Pollard of Memphis, Tennessee, was held to 64 yards on 14 carries.

Tennessee’s defense was led by linebacker Cedric Gray from Charlotte, North Carolina, who racked up a game-high 17 tackles. Despite the defensive effort, the Titans’ offense could not sustain any momentum, crossing midfield only a handful of times and never seriously threatening to score.

The shutout victory provides a massive boost for the Texans as they head into a tough road test at Baltimore next Sunday. The Titans, still searching for their first win, will look to regroup on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.