Titans Schedule: Analyzing Weeks 15-18

Taking a different and more informative approach to analyzing the Tennessee Titans Schedule.

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The schedule analysis has come to a close and the Titans are going to have a fun four game stretch to end the season after some hard fought battles up to this point to keep their heads above water.

The last four games see three being played at home and three division games. It’s a stretch of games that prove to be the most important stretch of the Titans season while also being one of the easiest stretches.

Week 15/17: Both Houston Texans Games

Key Additions: DeMeco Ryans, CJ Stroud, John Metchie, Robert Woods, Will Anderson, Devin Singletary
Key Losses: Brandin Cooks

Stat of the Game: The Texans were formed in 2022 and have started 20 different quarterbacks over the last 20 years of NFL seasons. CJ Stroud, when he starts, will make it 21. Essentially, they’re averaging a new quarterback every year. Now, this is a little facetious because all it takes is one start to make it 20, but just a fun little stat to start your day.

Key Matchup to Exploit: Right now the Texans depth chart over at OurLads.com is projecting Juice Scruggs to be the starting center for the Houston Texans. They also have Scott Quessenberry on the roster but neither inspire confidence when you’re lining up against Jeffery Simmons and Teair Tart.

From center all the way to right tackle is the matchup I would exploit. I would tee off on the right side all day long while leaving Simmons to feast on Scruggs. Both games this should be the plan. The pass catchers for the Texans aren’t anything to write home about and are almost a carbon copy of the talent the Titans have. In fact, I think the Texans have a worse WR corps.

This lets you rely on your defensive backs to handle their job with ease and send extra pressure to either Davis Mills or CJ Stroud right up the middle. Both Mills and Stroud have shown they are terrible when under pressure and neither are fast processors. If you’re the Titans you just send the house all day long begging them to make a mistake or take a sack.

Scariest Matchup for the Titans: Dalton Schultz versus the middle of the field. I am not entirely sure where I land on Schultz being a preeminent tight end but he is still their best/proven offensive weapon currently. Schultz is a guy who both Mills and Stroud will lean on in games, kind of like Delanie Walker for Marcus Mariota. I could see Schultz having his best year statistically just off of sheer volume.

I don’t necessarily think this is “scary” as much as I feel its the only person I would be scared of on the field. I would let Woods catch passes before I’d let Schultz catch a pass, if I’m the Titans defense.

Texans’ Summer Storylines to Watch: Which Quarterback will it be week one? Can Davis Mills, under Bobby Slowik, keep Stroud at bay? Stroud, who has flaws to his game, is going to have to come in and prove the doubters wrong.

The Texans do not have to start Stroud week one. Yes, they drafted him high, but they’re not in a position where they have to start him if they feel he isn’t ready. So, he’s going to have to prove he was worth the second overall pick and make sure Mills is seeing the bench.

I personally find it hard to imagine Stroud isn’t better than Mills but there are downsides to Stroud’s game according to Execs/Coaches. If the Texans start out losing can he handle that? Will he check out or step up? What about his processing speed and performance under pressure? Compared to college, he now has a worse OL and set of weapons around him. It wouldn’t be crazy for the Texans to try and ease him in to a better situation but I am not sure Mills is good enough to keep him at bay

Why the Titans Will Win: Stroud stinks. Mills stinks. Thus the Titans win. The Texans are going to be a good team in the future but right now they’re still going through growing pains. Ryans will be a very good head coach but he is still a first year head coach with a subpar roster. Slowik is a good offensive mind but he is still has limited ceiling pieces to work with.

They’ll kind of be like the Texans of last year. Playing with lots of fight and keeping some games closer than they should but the Titans have the better head coach, more experienced roster, and the Oilers uniforms for one of these games. The Titans will dominate the trenches and their quick passing game and new offensive scheme will be able to tire out the defense.

Why the Titans Will Lose: CJ Stroud proves the doubters wrong and Tank Dell is a menace despite his size. To me those two guys becoming what internet scouts thought they were would be a bad thing for the Titans.

There is no one on this roster that can hang with Tank Dell in terms of explosiveness but they can get physical with him. Dell is so small and tiny it will be relatively easy to jam him up at the line. However, if they give Dell cushion it is game over.

If Stroud is suddenly finding his rhythm within the speed of the NFL game his accuracy and timing could prove an issue even with a lackluster supporting cast.

Final Verdict: The Titans are going to split these games. That is just what they do. I think the Titans just have to make things hard on themselves in at least one of these Texans game. Probably their second matchup when they’re in Houston. At home they’re winning in the Oilers uniforms and it will be glorious.

Week 16: vs the Seattle Seahawks