The Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans Match Player Stats Complete Game Breakdown highlights Houston’s first victory of the 2026 NFL season. The Texans defeated the Titans 26–3 in their Week 5 matchup on October 11 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Houston combined a productive passing performance from quarterback C.J. Stroud with a strong defensive display that limited Tennessee to 187 total net yards. After a competitive opening quarter, the Texans took control with three second-quarter field goals and added two touchdowns after halftime.
The result was important for both AFC South teams. Houston entered the contest looking for its first win after a difficult opening stretch, and its performance improved the team’s record to 1–4. Tennessee, meanwhile, fell to 0–5 after struggling to produce consistent offense and committing two costly turnovers. Stroud finished with 261 passing yards and a touchdown pass, while kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn made four field goals. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr. recorded three sacks, helping Houston maintain control from the second quarter onward.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 3 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| Tennessee Titans | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Houston won the game 26–3, turning a tied first quarter into a convincing road victory. Tennessee initially took the lead with a 30-yard field goal from Joey Slye. Houston responded with a 45-yard field goal from Fairbairn, leaving the teams tied at 3–3 after the opening quarter. The Texans then scored nine points in the second quarter without allowing Tennessee to add to its total. Three successful field goals gave Houston a 12–3 halftime advantage.
Houston extended its lead in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Stroud, finishing a 17-play, 74-yard drive. The Texans scored again early in the fourth quarter when Stroud connected with Jaylin Noel for a nine-yard touchdown. Fairbairn converted both extra points, and Tennessee could not respond. Houston’s 23 unanswered points after the teams were tied made the difference, while the Texans’ defense prevented the Titans from scoring another point after their opening field goal.
C.J. Stroud’s Passing and Rushing Performance
C.J. Stroud led Houston’s offense with 26 completions on 34 attempts for 261 passing yards, one passing touchdown and no interceptions. His accuracy helped the Texans maintain possession and move the ball into scoring range throughout the contest. Although Houston initially relied on Fairbairn’s field goals to build its lead, Stroud continued to find receivers and eventually helped turn that advantage into touchdowns. His ability to avoid interceptions was particularly valuable in a game where Tennessee’s turnovers gave Houston additional opportunities.
Stroud also contributed on the ground, scoring Houston’s first touchdown with a two-yard run in the third quarter. He finished with six rushing attempts for five yards, including the scoring run. The touchdown capped a long drive that consumed more than eight minutes and put the Texans ahead 19–3. Stroud’s combined passing and rushing contributions gave Houston multiple ways to move the ball, while his disciplined decision-making helped the team finish the game without a lost fumble or interception.
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Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans Passing Attack
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward completed 23 of 36 passes for 170 yards, with no passing touchdowns and one interception. While his completion total showed that he connected with receivers regularly, the Titans struggled to translate those completions into scoring opportunities. Houston applied consistent pressure, disrupted passing plays and forced Tennessee into difficult situations. Ward was unable to lead a touchdown drive, and the Titans’ only points came from Slye’s field goal early in the first quarter.
Ward’s interception came as Houston’s defense pressured him on a throw across the middle. Linebacker Jake Hansen recorded the interception, giving the Texans another opportunity to extend their lead. Tennessee also lost a fumble when running back Tyjae Spears mishandled the ball, with Houston safety Jalen Pitre recovering it. These two turnovers placed additional pressure on the Titans’ offense and contributed to the growing deficit. Ward’s performance was not defined by interceptions alone, but the absence of a touchdown and the limited overall yardage reflected Tennessee’s offensive problems.
Woody Marks Leads Houston’s Rushing Attack
Running back Woody Marks led Houston in rushing with 15 carries for 62 yards. His contribution helped the Texans maintain balance instead of relying entirely on Stroud’s passing. Although Marks did not score a rushing touchdown, his steady gains helped Houston move the chains and manage possessions. The Texans were able to combine running plays with short and intermediate passes, keeping the Tennessee defense engaged and creating opportunities to sustain drives.
David Montgomery also carried the ball five times for 11 yards before leaving with a groin injury, according to the game report. Stroud’s two-yard touchdown run provided the team’s other key rushing contribution. Houston did not need an explosive rushing performance from a single running back because its passing attack and defensive stops repeatedly created favorable situations. Marks’ 62 yards were the highest rushing total for either team, and his workload helped support Houston’s second-half control.
Receiving Statistics: Texans vs Titans
Houston’s receiving group gave Stroud several options, with Xavier Hutchinson recording four receptions for 65 yards to lead the Texans in receiving yards. Jaylin Noel finished with five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown, including the nine-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter. Noel’s touchdown came after Stroud found him in the end zone, completing a drive that put the game firmly out of reach for Tennessee.
For the Titans, Wan’Dale Robinson led the team with six receptions for 53 yards. Tennessee also looked for contributions from its other receivers, but the passing game lacked the explosive plays needed to challenge Houston’s lead. The Texans’ defense restricted the Titans’ opportunities downfield, and the offense’s turnovers made it more difficult to sustain pressure on Houston. The contrast between the teams was clear: Houston converted its passing production into a touchdown, while Tennessee finished the game without a receiving touchdown.
| Player | Team | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xavier Hutchinson | Texans | 4 | 65 | 0 |
| Jaylin Noel | Texans | 5 | 41 | 1 |
| Woody Marks | Texans | 4 | 23 | 0 |
| Wan’Dale Robinson | Titans | 6 | 53 | 0 |
Ka’imi Fairbairn’s Four Field Goals
Houston kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn played a central role in building the team’s lead. He made four field goals, from 45, 35, 26 and 53 yards, accounting for 12 points. His first kick tied the game at 3–3 late in the opening quarter. Three more successful attempts in the second quarter pushed Houston’s advantage to 12–3 by halftime. Those kicks were particularly important because the Texans had not yet scored a touchdown, and each successful attempt rewarded the offense for reaching scoring range.
Fairbairn’s accuracy also allowed Houston to build a cushion while its defense continued to stop Tennessee. Rather than forcing risky plays when the offense approached the edge of field-goal range, Houston was able to take points and make the Titans chase the game. Once Stroud scored on the ground and Noel caught the later touchdown, Fairbairn added the extra points to complete the 26-point total. His four field goals were an important foundation for Houston’s victory.
Will Anderson Jr. and Houston’s Defensive Pressure
Will Anderson Jr. delivered one of the game’s standout defensive performances, recording three sacks against Ward. His pressure disrupted Tennessee’s passing rhythm and made it difficult for the Titans to develop longer plays. Anderson repeatedly attacked the pocket, while Danielle Hunter also recorded a sack, including a nine-yard loss. The Texans’ pass rush helped keep Tennessee from establishing an effective passing attack and prevented Ward from finding comfortable throwing opportunities.
Houston’s defensive success extended beyond sacks. The Texans limited Tennessee to 187 total net yards and did not allow a touchdown. Jake Hansen’s interception and Jalen Pitre’s fumble recovery gave Houston two takeaways, helping the offense gain favorable field position. Tennessee’s inability to answer Houston’s second-quarter scoring run meant the pressure increased with every possession. The defense continued to deliver stops after halftime, allowing the Texans to add touchdowns while protecting a lead that grew from nine points to 23.
Team Statistics: Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans
The team statistics underline Houston’s overall advantage. The Texans recorded 329 total net yards compared with Tennessee’s 187, while Houston also held the ball for 34 minutes and 39 seconds. Tennessee had possession for 25 minutes and 21 seconds. Houston’s ability to sustain longer drives helped its offense score repeatedly, and the defense’s stops meant the Titans were unable to use their limited possessions to build momentum.
| Team statistic | Houston Texans | Tennessee Titans |
|---|---|---|
| Total net yards | 329 | 187 |
| Passing yards | 261 | 170 |
| Rushing yards | 79 | 57 |
| First downs | 20 | 15 |
| Third-down efficiency | 6/12 | 4/11 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 11 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 95 | 83 |
| Time of possession | 34:39 | 25:21 |
Houston’s advantage was not based on every statistical category. The Texans committed more penalties and gave up more penalty yards than Tennessee, but they avoided turnovers and were more effective at extending possessions. The Titans’ two turnovers were especially costly because they interrupted potential drives and helped Houston maintain control of the scoreboard. The Texans’ 20 first downs compared with Tennessee’s 15 also reflected a more productive offense, while the time-of-possession gap gave Houston greater control over the pace of the game.
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Key Turning Points in the Game
The first major turning point came in the second quarter, when Houston began converting possessions into points while Tennessee’s offense stalled. Fairbairn made field goals from 35, 26 and 53 yards, transforming a 3–3 tie into a 12–3 halftime lead. A fumble by Spears and Ward’s interception contributed to Houston’s opportunities. Although the Titans’ defense prevented an early touchdown, it could not keep the Texans from repeatedly reaching field-goal range.
The decisive shift came after halftime. Houston opened the second half with a 17-play, 74-yard drive that ended with Stroud’s two-yard rushing touchdown. That long possession pushed the lead to 19–3 and limited Tennessee’s time to respond. Early in the fourth quarter, Stroud’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Noel made it 26–3. With Houston’s defense still preventing touchdowns and the Titans struggling to generate explosive plays, the game was effectively decided before the final whistle.
What the Result Means for Both Teams
The victory moved Houston to 1–4, giving the Texans their first win of the 2026 season. It provided a positive result for an offense that had shown promise but needed a complete performance to secure a victory. Stroud’s 261 passing yards, Fairbairn’s four field goals and Noel’s touchdown helped Houston build a reliable scoring total. Defensively, Anderson’s three sacks and the two takeaways gave the team a strong foundation and showed how pressure can influence an entire game.
Tennessee fell to 0–5 after another difficult outing. The Titans had opened the scoring, but they did not score again after Slye’s first-quarter field goal. Ward’s 170 passing yards and Robinson’s 53 receiving yards were not enough to overcome the turnovers and defensive pressure. Tennessee will need to improve pass protection, create more productive rushing and receiving plays, and avoid costly mistakes in future games. Houston, meanwhile, can use this result as a platform to build confidence and improve its position in the AFC South.
Conclusion
The Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans Match Player Stats Complete Game Breakdown shows how Houston earned a convincing 26–3 road victory through efficient quarterback play, reliable kicking and a dominant defensive effort. Stroud completed 26 of 34 passes for 261 yards, threw one touchdown without an interception and added a rushing touchdown. Fairbairn made four field goals, while Noel caught the fourth-quarter touchdown that completed Houston’s scoring. Woody Marks led the Texans’ rushing attack with 62 yards, giving the offense useful balance.
Houston’s defense was equally important, holding Tennessee to 187 total net yards and recording two takeaways. Anderson’s three sacks helped disrupt Ward, who finished with 170 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The Texans scored 23 unanswered points after the teams were tied in the first quarter, demonstrating their ability to take control and protect a lead. For Houston, the win ended a difficult start to the season; for Tennessee, the loss highlighted the urgent need for better offensive execution and fewer costly mistakes.
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