Davis Mills has quarterbacked the Texans to two straight wins and it looks like there’s a good chance he’ll get an opportunity to make it three in a row.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters on Monday that C.J. Stroud remains in the concussion protocol. His chances of being cleared in time to play this week are hampered by the fact that Houston will be hosting the Bills on Thursday night this week.
Safety Jalen Pitre also remains in the concussion protocol. Ryans said that the team will see how things play out with both players, but the lack of practice time during the brief window before the game is going to make it difficult for them to get back.
Mills was 26-of-41 for 274 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 19-16 win over the Titans.
It was anything but pretty, but a win is a win is a win.
The Texans won their second consecutive game — their third victory in four games — and climbed back to .500 with a 16-13 win over the Titans on a last-play field goal by Matthew Wright. Houston is 5-5 and Tennessee 1-9 after Sunday’s ugly affair in Nashville.
The Texans, playing without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud for a second consecutive week, outgained the Titans 315 to 229. Davis Mills went 26-of-41 for 274 yards and a touchdown.
Houston had no points in the first half, but got a 3-yard touchdown catch by Nico Collins and Wright field goals of 41 and 43 yards in the second half. The Texans appeared to have it in the bag with a 13-6 lead with 4:57 left.
But the Titans reached the Houston 32, getting help on Derek Stingley’s 18-yard pass interference penalty and Denico Autry’s illegal use of hands penalty on back-to-back plays. Autry’s 5-yard penalty was tacked onto the end of Cam Ward’s 20-yard scramble. But a false start and a sack of Ward had the Titans facing a third-and-16.
Ward threw a 39-yard pass to Chig Okonkwo to the Houston 7 on the first play after the 2-minute warning, and Van Jefferson caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ward. The Titans chose to kick the extra point instead of going for 2, tying it 13-13 with 1:35 left.
Mills then drove the Texans 48 yards in nine plays, eating up the final 1:35 as Wright’s 35-yard kick won it. Collins kept the drive alive with a toe-tapping, 17-yard catch on third-and-16. He caught nine passes for 92 yards.
Ward was 24-of-37 for 194 yards and a touchdown and added 33 yards on three scrambles. Okonkwo caught three passes for 56 yards.
The Titans have ruled out wide receivers Calvin Ridley (ankle) and Chimere Dike (concussion).
Ridley, who missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, lasted one play on Sunday. He injured his ankle on a 13-yard reception from Cam Ward on the team’s first play from scrimmage.
Ridley needed a cart to get into the X-ray room.
The Titans have only 136 yards, but field-goal drives of 50 and 37 yards. Joey Slye hit from 56 and 47.
The Texans, who reached the Titans 1-yard line on their first drive of the game before turning it over on downs, finally scored. Nico Collins caught a 3-yard touchdown pass from Davis Mills with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Mills, who is playing for C.J. Stroud, is 18-of-26 for 188 yards and a touchdown. Collins has six catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.
The Texans lead 7-6.
The Texans drove to the Titans’ 1-yard line on their first drive. They faced a fourth-and-goal from the 1, and opted to go for it.
Titans linebacker Cody Barton was untouched on a blitz and sacked Davis Mills for an 11-yard loss. That 15-play drive is as close as the Texans got to scoring in the first half.
The Titans lead 3-0 at halftime of a game that is as boring as it sounds.
Joey Slye kicked a 56-yard field goal with 50 seconds left in the first quarter for the only points of the game.
The Texans are playing without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud, who is missing his second game with a concussion.
Houston has outgained Tennessee 140 to 92, with Mills going 14-of-22 for 130 yards. Jayden Higgins has three catches for 32 yards.
Cam Ward is 9-of-16 for 79 yards. Calvin Ridley injured his ankle on the team’s first play from scrimmage and is questionable to return. Tony Pollard has six carries for 11 yards.
Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. He lasted one play on Sunday.
Ridley was injured on a 13-yard reception from Cam Ward on the team’s first play from scrimmage. Azeez Al-Shaair and Calen Bullock sandwiched Ridley, and he injured his ankle.
Ridley required a cart to get from the sideline to the X-ray room.
The Titans list him as questionable to return.
He has 16 catches for 290 yards this season.
The Texans got into the red zone on their first drive, but on fourth-and-goal from the 1, but Cody Barton sacked Davis Mills on a blitz.
