A quarterback duel ensued between the Tennessee Titans’ Will Levis and the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud on Sunday in an AFC South clash, and the improbable occurred. The Titans and Levis came away with the 32-27 win to move to 3-8 on the season.
Tennessee’s tight end Chig Okonkwo runs past Texans safety Eric Murray after a catch to score a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, November 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Levis threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine late in the first quarter to take a 10-7 lead. Then, on the first play of their drive with about 9:35 left in the game, Levis found Chig Okonkwo for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Tennessee’s big play gave them a 30-27 lead. Later, Titans linebacker Harold Landry III put the icing on the cake with a safety on Stroud at the 1:13 mark.
Levis was 18-of-24 with 278 passing yards. He was sacked eight times, fumbled the ball away and threw an interception but still got the Titans the win. Titans running back Tony Pollard ran for 119 yards on 24 carries. He scored a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Calvin Ridley led the team with five catches for 93 yards.
Tennessee’s defense gave Stroud a headache. Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. and defensive back Jarvin Brownlee Jr. each picked off Stroud. Stroud finished with two touchdown passes. He was 20-of-33 with 247 yards.
The Texans’ offense was limited to just two early scores, a 19-yard touchdown pass to Cade Stover on their first drive and a five-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins. Texas kicker Ka’imi Fairbain added to it with a 54-yard field goal. But the defense couldn’t make the play to stop Okonkwo from scoring. It proved to be the major difference-maker.
