The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans meet Sunday at Nissan Stadium with both teams still hunting their first win, but the feeling around these 0-4 clubs is not remotely the same.
For Tennessee, the frustration is plain. For Houston, it is more of a shock. The Texans entered the season with expectations to chase not just the AFC South, but the AFC itself, yet they arrive in Nashville still winless and trying to steady a defense that has not played to its billing.
Titans head coach Robert Saleh didn’t mince words when asked about Houston’s start. “It’s a very talented group; obviously, they’re nowhere near indicative of what their record is.”
That defense has been the biggest surprise for the Texans. Coming in with what was supposed to be a top-five unit, Houston has instead allowed 260 passing yards and 27 points per game. In the league’s defensive standings, the Texans sit 20th at 343 yards per game, while Tennessee checks in 15th at 332.
The Texans still have real teeth up front, though. Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter remain one of the league’s most dangerous pass-rushing duos, and that’s where the Titans will face their toughest test yet. Anderson already has 4.5 sacks, while Hunter has 2.0.
Tennessee’s problem has been less about getting close and more about finishing. The Titans’ last two losses have each come by one score, but those games have also included three drives inside the opponent’s 10-yard line that ended with no points. In a league where red-zone trips have to turn into touchdowns, that has been a killer.
Second-year quarterback Cam Ward has been at the center of that conversation. He threw the interception that swung the Giants game two weeks ago, then last week against the Ravens the Titans didn’t even attempt a pass inside the 10 on two of three possessions. That prompted questions about whether the coaching staff had lost confidence in him.
Saleh pushed back hard on that idea. “We have the utmost confidence in Cam.
We really do, and I’m not trying to stand up here and show strength, like, the kid’s going to be a damn good quarterback, man. Everyone just needs to take a deep breath and let him grow and if you can’t objectively sit down and watch tape and look at him from Week 1 of last year even to Week 1 this year to Week 4 yesterday and not see improvement in a young man who’s trending in the right direction, then you’re just being biased to your own opinion.”
Ward’s 2026 numbers show the rough edges and the promise: 75-for-119 passing, 726 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and eight sacks.
Houston’s offense has leaned heavily on the passing game behind C.J. Stroud, especially with Nico Collins in the lineup.
The Texans have struggled to establish the run all season, but Collins has been a different story when healthy. In his two games this year, he caught seven passes in each one and topped 70 yards once and 100 yards in the other.
Saleh knows slowing Collins down is easier said than done. “I think he’s played two games and they’ve scored 30 points in each of them.
He’s an animal, man. He’s definitely somebody you got to account for, C.J.’s [Stroud] favorite target by far, so he’s special in that regard.”
Tennessee will already be short-handed in the secondary, with safety Amani Hooker officially ruled out because of a concussion.
Houston opened as a 6.5-point favorite, the line climbed as high as 7.5, then settled back at 7.0 on Saturday night.
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Texans Win Came With A Strange Titans Moment Fans Couldn't Ignore
During Tennessees loss to the Houston Texans, the usual frustration of another defeat was joined by a much smaller, stranger scene that quickly caught the eye of fans watching online. Cornerback CorDale Flotts helmet became a talking point on social media as the Titans tried to keep up in a game that only added to an already rough start.
Flott also dealt with a chest injury that forced him off the field, and teammate Micah Robinson stepped in to take his place. It was the kind of offbeat moment that can get lost inside a lopsided loss, but for Tennessee it fit the larger picture all too well, with the Titans now sitting at five straight losses to open the season. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Wards Response To Another Titans Loss Says A Lot
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Wards numbers were a rare bright spot in a rough day, as he completed 23 of 26 passes for 170 yards with one interception. Still, Tennessees offense never found enough rhythm to change the shape of the game, and the bigger question now is how much of this start is growing pain and how much is becoming a defining stretch for a team still searching for its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Daboll Is Already Testing Titans Fans Patience
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Cam Wards early work under Daboll has only added to the unease. Compared with his rookie season, his yards per attempt and passer rating have gone backward, and the downfield production has been scarce, with few completions over 20 yards. Even a low-output showing against the Houston Texans fit the same pattern, leaving Titans fans waiting for signs that this pairing can turn into something more functional. [Read more 🡒]