One major mismatch the Titans can exploit vs Texans
The Tennessee Titans (4-2) are gearing up for a Week 8 matchup as the go on the road to face the Houston Texans (1-3-1) in Week 8. These two AFC South foes are heading in different connections, but they happen to share similar offensive identities. With star running back Derrick Henry in the backfield, it’s […]
The Tennessee Titans (4-2) are gearing up for a Week 8 matchup as the go on the road to face the Houston Texans (1-3-1) in Week 8. These two AFC South foes are heading in different connections, but they happen to share similar offensive identities.
With star running back Derrick Henry in the backfield, it’s no secret that the Titans prefer to attack defenses with their physicality in the run game.
In fact, Henry ranks fourth in the NFL with 536 rushing yards, although the three players in front of him have each played in one extra game.
Surprisingly, Texans rookie running back Dameon Pierce falls right behind Henry’s total, ranking sixth in the league with 504 rushing yards. Though it took the Texans a couple of games to realize that Pierce should be leading the backfield, he’s averaging an efficient 4.8 yards per carry.
Both teams will go as far as the ground game will take them. However, the Titans have one massive advantage over Houston — the ability to stop the run. The Texans will be facing a Tennessee defense which prides itself on bottling up running backs.
The Titans boast the NFL’s fourth-best run defense, allowing an average of 96.8 rushing yards per game.
They’ve held Colts RB Johnathan Taylor to 100 yards combined in two meetings this season. Raiders RB Josh Jacobs has been plowing over defenses all year long, and is currently the NFL’s third leading rusher. Tennessee’s defense held him to just 66 yards in a Week 3 matchup.
On the other hand, the Texans’ defense ranks last in the NFL when it comes to defending the run. Houston is allowing opponents to rush for 164.7 yards per game on the year.
Three running backs have exceeded 140 yards rushing against this porous Texans defense through six games. This does not bode well with King Henry rolling into Houston with three-straight performances of 100-plus rushing yards.
Henry has dominated the Texans throughout his career. In 10 games against Houston, Henry is averaging 103.5 yards per game, but even that doesn’t do him justice. The Texans dodged the King due to injury last season, but Henry eclipsed the 200-yard mark in both games in 2020 en route to a 2,000-yard campaign.
While each team uses similar styles on offense, the Titans’ run defense is what separates these two AFC South rivals, if Titans fans still consider the poverty-stricken Texans to be a rival at this point.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
