The Tennessee Titans have nothing left to play for this season but pride, and with another loss, the same might soon be said of the Houston Texans, whose playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. The Titans go in search of that elusive win to snap their five-game skid in Texas as Houston hopes to have a healthy Arian Foster back and ready to carry a heavy workload against their AFC South rivals.
Over in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos in a game that could easily stand as the deciding game in the division. Click here for a comprehensive preview of that game after reading up on the Titans vs. Texans.
[sc:Football ]Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
When: Sunday, November 30, 1:00 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Titans (+7) at Houston Texans (-7); total 43.0 – see all NFL lines
Betting on the Tennessee Titans
Another week, another defeat for the Tennessee Titans, who now own the longest losing streak in the AFC at five games after their 43-24 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a disappointing performance for the Titans defense, which surrendered its highest point total of the season against the Eagles.
[sc:NFL240banner ]However, there are some positives to glean from the loss, starting with rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger. Without any sort of running game to lean upon, Mettenberger threw for 345 yards – a new Titans rookie record – and two touchdowns with one interception.
He combined with leading receiver Delanie Walker, who was perhaps the only other bright spot for the Titans, five times for 155 yards in his first game back after missing their previous game against Pittsburgh with a concussion.
The offense has shown signs of improvement under Mettenberger. After a rough couple of starts, Mettenberger has led the Titans to back-to-back 24-point games, a number they’d topped just twice with Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst under center.
The rookie even had the Titans leading by nine against the Steelers on Monday Night Football heading into the fourth quarter, only for the defense to falter in the end.
Mettenberger should be able to move the ball against a Texans defense that is giving up 278 passing yards per game, second-worst in the NFL.
Betting on the Houston Texans
The Houston Texans may have kissed playoff hopes goodbye when they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 22-13, at home. The loss drops the Texans to 5-6 on the season, a full two games back of the two 7-4 AFC wild-cards.
Star running back Arian Foster missed his second straight game with a groin injury. Foster wasn’t missed the previous week against Cleveland, as rookie Alfred Blue rushed for 156 of the team’s 213 total yards in a 23-7 win. However, Blue couldn’t replicate that performance against the Bengals as the Texans were held to just 64 yards on the ground.
Foster’s potential return against a Titans team that is second from bottom against the run (143.5 yards allowed per game) would be a big boost to the Texans offense. Foster ran all over Tennessee for 151 yards and two touchdowns in their earlier meeting this season.
At that time, Foster was receiving handoffs from Ryan Fitzpatrick, and will likely do so again after it was revealed that Ryan Mallett, who had taken Fitzpatrick’s starting quarterback job has a torn pectoral muscle. Fitzgerald may not be the greatest quarterback in the world, but even he could probably do better than the 47 percent completion and 189 yards Mallett managed against Cincy.
J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney and the Texans couldn’t get to Andy Dalton, recording no sacks and only two quarterback hits against the Bengals quarterback. But they could enjoy a little more success against a struggling Titans offensive line ranked 26th in adjusted sack rate (through Week 11) to apply pressure on a rookie quarterback and possibly force some turnovers.
Writer’s Prediction
Mettenberger keeps the Titans within striking distance as they cover on the road in Texas. Create a betting account and look for hidden value in dangerous underdogs this week in the NFL.
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