Titans vs. Texans: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

Matt Hasselbeck and the Tennessee Titans' playoff dreams are on the line against the Houston Texans in the final game of the 2011 regular season. Looking at the schedule earlier in the year, many predicted that this game would hold postseason implications, and they were right. The Titans need plenty of help to get in, but the defeating the Texans is what they should be worried about the most.

Houston can’t improve or hurt its seeding in the playoffs, so it may be wise to rest their key starters. But matched up with their rival, the opportunity to throw the knockout punch may be too satisfying to pass up.

Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX

When: Sunday, Jan. 1 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Watch: CBS

Listen: Titans Radio

Betting Line: Tennessee -3, according to Locksmith Sports Picks.

What’s At Stake?

For the Titans, everything. They must win this game to have any hope of winning a tiebreaker and sneaking into the postseason. The Texans are locked into the No. 3 seed, but they’d still love to knock their division rival out of the playoff picture.

Titans Injury Report

According to USA Today, Lavelle Hawkins, William Hayes and Gerald McRath are all questionable for the season finale. Hawkins injured his ankle last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hayes has missed the past two games with a groin injury and McRath has been out since he sustained a knee injury in Week 14.

Texans Injury Report

Troy Nolan, Sherrick McManis, Andre Johnson and Garrett Graham are all questionable, but in a meaningless game, Gary Kubiak may just rest any dinged up players to avoid any further unnecessary injury. Johnson hasn’t played since he suffered a hamstring injury in Week 13.

What They’re Saying

Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt tweeted that Tennessee head coach Mike Munchak said his team could be fueled by more than a playoff berth.

John McClain—not from Die Hard, but the Houston Chronicle—tweeted that Houston coach Gary Kubiak said the Texans won’t coast through the finish line.

Titans Player To Watch

Jared Cook looks like he’s finally emerged as a consistent weapon in the Titans offense. According to the Tennessean’s Jim Wyatt, Cook needs 73 receiving yards to break the Titans franchise record for tight ends in a single season. With Frank Wycheck being the player that he’d pass, it’s a pretty big deal.

Cook has recorded two straight hundred-yard games, along with 45 receptions for 696 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

Texans Player To Watch

In Arian Foster’s first game of the season against the Titans, he rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. What made the performance stand out, though, were his 119 receiving yards and touchdown. If Tennessee plans to stay within striking distance in this one, they were slaughtered 41-7 in round one, they must slow down Foster.

Key Matchup

Andre Johnson vs. Cortland Finnegan

If Johnson ends up playing, this is a must-watch matchup. They fought last season, Johnson has owned the Titans in the past and Finnegan is having one of his best years in the league. If Finnegan can lock up his rival, it would be a huge boost for Tennessee.

Prediction

With CJ2K in the backfield, the Titans would be able to come away with the win, but this season, Chris Johnson hasn’t been nearly as dominant as he’s been in the past. Tennessee’s joke of an interior offensive line is a major reason why. The Texans' top-notch defense will force the Titans to become one-dimensional early and without Kenny Britt, they don’t have the firepower at receiver to pull it off.

Texans 21-17

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter.