Texans vs. Titans: What's the Game Plan for Houston?

Offensive Game Plan

There are many possible matchups that would play into the Houston Texans' favour, but they need to force Tennessee corner Perrish Cox into covering DeAndre Hopkins as much as possible.

Out of 116 eligible corners who have played on at least 25 percent of their team's snaps this season, Cox ranks 105th in opposing quarterback rating and 109th in touchdowns allowed; only three players have allowed more touchdowns this year than Cox.

Arguably their "best" corner, Coty Sensabaugh, ranks 77th and 100th respectively in those two categories, so there isn't anyone on the Titans' roster who should be able to slow down Hopkins.

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Brandon Weeden showed confidence in the ability of Hopkins to win 50-50 battles for the football, and the Pro Bowl receiver rewarded him with several tough and physical catches as well as drawing a couple pass-interference penalties.

The Titans rank 30th in passing touchdowns allowed, 29th in yards per pass attempt allowed and 31st in opposing quarterback rating, so even with Weeden playing, there's no reason why they shouldn't target Hopkins 12-15 times and give him a chance to make some big plays.

Defensive Game Plan

If he had enough playing time this season to qualify, the average time Zach Mettenberger has needed to get rid of the ball from the snap to the pass attempt would rank 28th as one of the slower quarterbacks in the league.

Mettenberger holds on to the ball for too long and might be the slowest runner at his position in the league, so the pass rush of the Texans should be able to get home and disrupt the Titans' game plan.

A few great quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson have been slower by the same measure, but both quarterbacks have better offensive lines and drastically more athletic ability than Mettenberger, which gives them the ability to buy time with their legs.

If J.J. Watt was 100 percent healthy, the strategy would be simple and straightforward because no one on the Titans roster has been able to block him.

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In nine career games against the Titans, Watt has 14.5 sacks against them. That sacks-per-game average against Tennessee multiplied out over a full season would give him 25 over 16 games, which would beat the current single-season NFL record by 2.5 sacks.

Houston is 7-2 in those nine games against the Titans with Watt playing; he has dominated Tennessee's offensive line.

In three starts against the Texans, Mettenberger has been held under 200 passing yards twice, has thrown an equal amount of interceptions to touchdowns and has been sacked by Watt 6.5 times. On top of that, Houston won each game by at least 14 points, with an average margin of victory of 17 points.

Unfortunately, Watt isn't 100 percent with one hand taped up in a club, so the Texans will have to get creative.

The best way to do that would be to involve Watt in as many DE-DT or DE-OLB stunts as possible, so he can still be involved with creating a pass rush without having to beat his man.

Romeo Crennel has done a nice job this season with the twists and two-man games he's run with the front seven to confuse the opposing offensive line and create pressure, so considering how long Mettenberger holds the ball, that strategy should work well.

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Even with the club to protect his broken hand, Watt will still attract two blockers on most plays, so let him take those blockers up the field with power, while either Jadeveon Clowney or Whitney Mercilus loops around inside to rush through the hole created.

Clowney has looked pretty good getting a push from the inside when they've rushed him from there, and Mercilus showed off a great spin move a couple times last week, so they could have a huge game getting to Mettenberger with this game plan. 

Key Players and Matchups

Delanie Walker vs. Texans' Linebackers and Safeties in Coverage

Many people might not realize that it's Walker who leads all tight ends this year in receptions.

Rob Gronkowski would likely be the leader if he hadn't missed a game with injury, but fans might have guessed Greg Olsen or Jason Witten before Walker if asked who leads that position in catches this season.

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Walker also ranks third in receiving yards and seventh in receiving touchdowns among all NFL tight ends.

The Tennessee offense was held to just six points the last time it played Houston, but Walker still had a decent game, with a stat line of six receptions for 62 yards.

Tennessee's next leading receiver for targets and receiving yards—Dorial Green-Beckham—is 45 targets and 407 yards behind Walker, so Walker is clearly their top target for whichever quarterback is behind center and should be the main focus for the Texans coverage in this game.

Jurrell Casey vs. the Texans' Interior Offensive Line

Jurrell Casey is tied for second in sacks on their roster with seven and reached double digits in sacks for Tennessee in 2013. Double-digit sacks for a defensive tackle is uncommon, so Casey is a threat that the Texans have to strategize to stop.

Pro Football Focus has Casey ranked as the sixth-best pass-rusher among interior defensive lineman and ninth in overall grade for that position.

Houston offensive guard Xavier Su'a-Filo struggled against Indianapolis and finished with the worst pass-block grade by Pro Football Focus for the Texans.

For the year, Su'a-Filo ranks 62nd out of 82 guards in that same grade for pass-blocking among players who have played on at least 25 percent of their team's snaps.

Su'a-Filo has blocked well in the running game this year, but whether he's asked to block Casey will be something to watch. 

Prediction

Regardless of whether this game is in Tennessee or Houston, if the Texans defense plays at the level it did against New Orleans, Cincinnati or in the first game against the Titans, then Mettenberger doesn't stand a chance.

They'll pressure him, hit him and force the second-year player into mistakes and turnovers.

The Texans offense likely won't be able to put up a ton of points if led by Weeden and Alfred Blue at quarterback and running back, but it'll be able to do just enough to win this game and hopefully clinch a playoff spot as the AFC South champions.

Texans 20, Titans 13