The Tennessee Titans face the Houston Texans in their second meeting of the 2025 season this Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
This will mark the 48th meeting between the two teams since the Texans were founded in 1999. The Texans were founded after Bud Adams moved the Houston Oilers to Tennessee, where they would become the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have always viewed the Texans as their little brother and a team they never want to lose to. The Titans currently lead the historical series 24-23.
Unfortunately, the Titans were shut out by the Texans in Week 4, and now the Texans have the chance to tie the series with a win this week. Let’s take a look at the five biggest storylines surrounding this storied rivalry in Week 11.
Titans’ revenge game
In their Week 4 matchup, the Texans shut out the Titans in a 26-0 shellacking. The Titans absolutely do not want that to happen again, especially since the Texans can tie up the historical record with a win. They’ll be looking for revenge for their last meeting, and coming off a bye, they’ll be healthier and more ready to face their division rival in Week 11.
Titans’ offense vs. Texans’ defense
Okay, you want to talk about stark contrast? The Titans rank at the bottom of the league (or close to it) in passing yards, rushing yards, and yards per play. The Texans have a top-five run defense and a top-five pass defense. This is why the Texans shut out the Titans in their first meeting, and something the Titans have to remedy if they don’t want a repeat of Week 4.
Despite leading the league in points allowed, the Texans rank 20th in red zone touchdown rate. Tennessee isn’t great at finding the red zone, but if they can do that on Sunday, they’ll have a much better shot at putting some points on the board.
Plus, J.C. Latham didn’t play in the first meeting this season due to injury. He’s been back for a couple of weeks now, but he faces a huge test against the Texans’ elite edge rushers. He and Kevin Zeitler have to lock down the right side of the line this week. Latham’s performance alone will have a huge impact on this game.
C.J. Stroud’s concussion status
The Texans’ starting quarterback left their game against the Denver Broncos with a concussion. He missed last week’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he remains in concussion protocol as of this writing. The Texans’ offensive ceiling hinges on whether Stroud clears protocol or not.
Last week, Davis Mills struggled to start the game, but led a massive comeback to get a divisional win, scoring 26 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The Titans’ defense is depleted, but Stroud’s availability is a key factor in their chances of winning.
The emergence of Nico Collins
Wide receiver Nico Collins has been somewhat quiet this season, but with Mills under center last week, he recorded a season-high 15 targets. His seven receptions were good for 136 yards, an average of 19.4 yards per reception. Collins has become a focal point of the Texans’ passing attack, and this week, against a weakened secondary, Collins could feast.
Playoff hopes vs. draft position
Believe it or not, the 4-5 Texans still have an opportunity to make the playoffs. At 1-8, the Titans are looking to take the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, as their playoff hopes died just a few weeks into the season. The outcome of this game could determine the trajectory of both teams in their respective postseason endeavors.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans: 5 biggest storylines in Week 11
