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This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans will welcome the Houston Texans to Nissan Stadium in Nashville for their first AFC South clash of the 2026 season. Both squads enter the matchup at 0-4, adding a sense of urgency that neither team anticipated.
While Tennessee enjoys the support of its home crowd and a chance to reset against a familiar foe, Houston arrives with renewed energy following the return of wide receiver Nico Collins.
The Titans have experienced significant turnover in 2026. Despite showing improvement in certain areas, they have yet to score more than 20 points in a game—a deficiency that has proven costly against most NFL opponents. If Tennessee hopes to secure its first victory, finding ways to put more points on the board is imperative, and that mission begins this week.
Here are six keys for the Titans to defeat the Texans on Sunday.
1. Simplify the Game for Cam Ward
Quarterback Cam Ward continues to develop, but there appears to be a disconnect with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The Titans' offense must keep the game manageable for Ward by avoiding obvious passing situations like third-and-long, eliminating pre-snap penalties, and ensuring skill players execute efficiently. A consistent run game and quick, reliable throws can keep the offense out of predictable passing downs and allow Ward to establish a rhythm. While explosive plays are desirable, Ward doesn't need to force a big play on every snap—he simply needs to move the chains and capitalize on opportunities Houston presents.
2. Maintain Solid Pass Protection
Houston's Will Anderson Jr. poses a significant threat to Tennessee's offensive line. The Texans' defense can disrupt any offense when it generates a clear path to the quarterback. Ward has largely avoided massive sacks, but he has been taken down six times in four games. Anderson alone has 4.5 sacks, and Houston has recorded 14 sacks as a team through four weeks. Tennessee's offensive line must communicate effectively, pick up pressures, and afford Ward enough time to progress through his reads. When the pocket holds, Ward can utilize his arm talent; when it collapses, drives can stall quickly. Although Ward can use his legs, he is a pass-first quarterback who prefers to operate from the pocket. If the line fails to protect him on Sunday, he'll be forced into hurried decisions—a scenario the Titans must avoid.
3. Build on Carnell Tate's Breakout Performance
Rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate provided a spark in Baltimore, hauling in nine passes for 145 yards—the first 100-yard game of his career. That performance offers a strong foundation to build upon. Tennessee must continue finding ways to involve the rookie while forcing Houston to account for the rest of the receiving corps. Ward has veterans like Calvin Ridley and Wan'Dale Robinson to target, along with tight ends Daniel Bellinger and Gunnar Helm. The Ward-to-Tate connection will only grow stronger, but the best way to leverage it is by utilizing multiple weapons. That will compel the Texans to defend more areas of the field, creating opportunities for Ward to connect with Tate on deep plays.
4. Disrupt C.J. Stroud's Comfort
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud enters the game with 1,141 passing yards and five touchdowns through four games, without throwing a single interception. He threw for 347 yards against Dallas last week in Collins' return. Tennessee's pass rush must disrupt his timing by applying pressure early and often, while the secondary maintains disciplined coverage to give the rush time to arrive. Like Ward, Stroud can use his legs, but it's not his primary option—he prefers to throw from the pocket. The goal is to make him hold the ball and earn his completions, force him to look beyond Collins, or induce hurried decisions that lead to mistakes. The pressure must be sustained for all four quarters.
5. Tackle Well and Limit Yards After Catch
Missed tackles were a major issue against Philadelphia in Week 2, particularly on the Eagles' game-winning drive. Tennessee cannot afford to continue missing tackles and allowing extra yards after catches. Short completions must not turn into long gains if the Titans expect to win. When first contact is made, the ball carrier should be stopped immediately. If Stroud finds a rhythm, especially with Collins on the field, it will spell trouble for Tennessee. The defense must swarm to the ball and finish tackles to get off the field and prevent Stroud from getting comfortable.
6. Finish in Critical Moments
Tennessee has had multiple games where a win was within reach. Had they stopped the Eagles in Week 2, they would have won. Had Ward not thrown an interception, they could have scored and won in Week 3. Last week against Baltimore, they fell short again. Against Houston in Week 5, every scoring opportunity matters. The Titans need touchdowns in the red zone, clean special-teams plays, and no careless turnovers. In a matchup between two winless teams, one mistake—or one well-executed drive late—could decide the outcome. Tennessee doesn't need a perfect performance; it needs to play clean, disciplined football and give maximum effort for all four quarters.
Originally reported by yahoo.