Houston at Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Matthew Wright’s 35-yard field goal as time expired lifted the Houston Texans to a 16-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium, a win secured only after a frantic final two minutes that saw both teams trade scores.

The Texans, who improved to 5-5, appeared to have the game in hand with a 13-6 lead late in the fourth quarter. But Titans quarterback Cam Ward engineered a dramatic 95-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 4-yard pass to Van Jefferson with 1:35 remaining, to tie the game.

Houston quarterback Davis Mills, who finished 26 of 41 for 274 yards, then calmly moved his team into field goal range. A 17-yard completion to Nico Collins and a series of short passes and runs set up Wright’s game-winning kick, his third of the day, as the clock hit zero.

The victory completes a season sweep for Houston over its AFC South rival, having defeated the Titans 26-0 in Week 4. Tennessee’s season of struggles continues, falling to 1-9.

The game was a defensive struggle for three quarters, defined by stalled drives and field goals. The Titans struck first with a 56-yard field goal from Joey Slye in the opening quarter. After a scoreless second quarter, Slye added another from 47 yards early in the third to give Tennessee a 6-0 lead.

Houston’s offense, stagnant for the first half, finally found its rhythm on the ensuing possession. Mills led a 65-yard drive, finishing it with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins to put the Texans ahead 7-6. Collins was Mills’ primary target throughout the afternoon, hauling in nine receptions for 92 yards and the score.

The Texans extended their lead later in the third quarter with a 41-yard field goal from Wright, and then again with a 43-yarder from Wright early in the fourth to make it 13-6.

Tennessee’s offense, led by Ward who passed for 194 yards and a touchdown while adding 33 yards on the ground, was largely contained until the final drive. A critical 18-yard defensive pass interference penalty on Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. kept the game-tying drive alive, and Ward found Jefferson for the score two plays later.

The Titans’ defense kept them in the game, with linebacker Cedric Gray recording a game-high 11 tackles and cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. adding 12. The unit sacked Mills four times, with Arden Key notching 1.5 sacks.

For Houston, the defensive effort was led by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and safety Calen Bullock, who each had six tackles. The Texans’ pass rush also found success, sacking Ward three times.

The Texans will host the Buffalo Bills on a short week this coming Thursday. The Titans will remain at home to face the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday.