What We Saw: Week 15

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Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Final Score: Texans 19, Titans 16 (OT)

Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)

It’s games like this that make you realize how valuable a good kicker can be. Ka’imi Fairbairn went 4/4 on field goal attempts, including a 54-yard game-winner in overtime, as well as nailing his lone extra point. Fairbairn was a rare bright spot in a game filled with offensive struggles as both teams tried their hardest to avoid the end zone. The Titans were off to a 13-0 lead before Fairbairn took the lid off, put the team on his back, and eventually secured the sudden-death game-winner to seal the road victory and improve to 8-6 while the Titans fell to 5-9 on the season.

Three Up

Devin Singletary – Even with a healthy Dameon Pierce, Singletary absolutely dominated the touches in this backfield.
Noah Brown – Noah has some receivers above him on the depth chart, both of which were not available this game. When he is called upon, he has delivered.
Will Levis – Still has a lot to learn but he is looking like the guy more and more.

Three Down

Dameon Pierce – After a promising 2022 season, 2023 has been a major letdown.
DeAndre Hopkins – Looked phased out of this offense.
Derrick Henry – Outproduced by his backfield cohort. Still a freakish athlete but the miles will be catching up to him.

Houston Texans

Quarterback

Case Keenum: 23/36, 229 Yards, TD, INT, Fumble | 2 Carries, 1 Yards

With CJ Stroud sidelined, the Texans looked to veteran Case Keenum to helm the offense against the Titans. Keenum showed his veteran savvy as the game went on and he kept his squad in the game even when trailing. Keenum had a rough pick-six in the second quarter but otherwise managed the game well enough to earn a victory. He missed a few throws and held onto the ball too long a few times but in the end, was able to secure a victory for a team that is still in the playoff hunt.

Schultz with the big first down 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/zvsUJgJtJV

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 17, 2023

Davis Mills: Sack

Running Back

Devin Singletary: 26 Carries, 121 Yards | 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 49 Yards

Devin Singletary has planted his flag in this backfield this season. Even with the return of Dameon Pierce, the touches were funneled to Singletary all game, both on the ground and in the air, and he has answered the call time and time again.

Dameon Pierce: 1 Carry, 3 Yards

It almost feels disrespectful, the amount of touches given to Dameon Pierce, as the season has progressed. Looks like he’s being phased out.

Dare Ogunbowale: 1 Carry, 17 Yards | 1 Target

Andrew Beck: 1 Target, 1 Reception

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Noah Brown: 11 Targets, 8 Receptions, 82 Yards, TD

With Nico Collins and Tank Dell in sweats, Noah Brown had another opportunity to shine as the top receiver on the Texans depth chart. A late touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game was the finishing touch on an efficient outing. When he has been called upon to be the top receiver in this offense, Brown has been the dude.

CALL HIM CLUTCH ‼️ pic.twitter.com/LiKzQc8354

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 17, 2023

Dalton Schultz: 5 Targets, 4 Receptions, 58 Yards

The catch GIF’d below by Dalton Schultz was the highlight of this matchup. Schultz was otherwise kept quiet throughout the game, but the importance of this big catch cannot be understated as it set the table for a game-tying score.

HOW?! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2Xu85oBD28

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 17, 2023

Robert Woods: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 30 Yards

Bobby Trees has fallen far from his years on the Rams. Robert Woods has been a veteran presence in this passing attack but hasn’t shown much value otherwise. This was more of the same.

Xavier Hutchinson: 1 Carry, 5 Yards | 3 Targets

Steven Sims: 1 Carry, 1 Yard, Fumble| 1 Target, 1 Reception

Brevin Jordan: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 14 Yards

John Metchie III: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 1 Yard

Tennessee Titans

Quarterback

Will Levis: 17/26, 199 Yards, INT, Fumble | 4 Carries, 25 Yards, TD

The Titans didn’t leave with a victory, but Will Levis continued to show why the team has shown faith in him this season after selecting him 33rd overall. He still has a lot to learn and will make plenty of mistakes, as shown by his interception, but otherwise, Levis looks like he might be the guy under center for the foreseeable future in Tennessee. Levis still doesn’t seem completely comfortable running the offense, but that day will come. Until then he’s going to keep making plays.

Capping off an 83-yard drive with a dive into the end zone #ProBowlVote + @will_levis
📺: Watch #HOUvsTEN on @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/FMasbTKPH6

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) December 17, 2023

Running Back

Tyjae Spears: 9 Carries, 30 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 7 Yards

The run game is typically a focal point for the Titans offense, but the Texans defense felt otherwise during this matchup. In general, Tyjae Spears was held in check but was able to find the most space to run the ball. Derrick Henry is still the guy in Tennessee but Spears has given the team a reason to have some optimism for the future.

Derrick Henry: 16 Carries, 9 Yards | 4 Targets, 4 Receptions, 1 Yard

He’s a big man who runs hard, but when the team doesn’t have the lead and the defense is expecting a handoff, Derrick Henry has been shut down easier than you would think. This was another one of those games. The Titans couldn’t get much of a rushing attack going, and when they did, it was Tyjae.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

DeAndre Hopkins: 9 Targets, 2 Receptions, 21 Yards

DeAndre Hopkins has been the guy in this passing attack all season, but it looks more and more like a youth movement is beginning in Tennessee. Hopkins was targeted plenty but a few simply weren’t catchable while a few others were well defensed. A younger Nuk might have fought to secure a couple more balls but here we are.

Treylon Burks: 1 Carry, 2 Yards | 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 62 Yards

It’s been a rough start to the career of Treylon Burks. While he secured 100% of his targets in this matchup, he still hasn’t had the impact you expect out of a player with his draft stock. While he has opportunities given to him in this offense, this was another game where a whole lot of nothing happened.