Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans MUST OVERCOME Shaky CJ Stroud & the Houston Texans for AFC South Supremacy

Episode Date: July 8, 2026

The Tennessee Titans will need to overcome the most consistent team in the division if they hope to reclaim the AFC South and that is the Houston Texans. Forever linked, the Titans-Texans rivalry has ...spanned for ages, but the Texans are on top right now and it is hard to see them falling off with the talent they have. While the Texans didn't make a lot of flashy moves, they added in the right places and made changes where necessary. In Houston though, the conversation still centers around quarterback CJ Stroud and John Hickman from Locked On Texans joins the show to discuss the Stroud situation at length while talking about the expectations for the team overall. Finally, Tyler admits a hard truth that he thinks the Titans will get swept against the Texans this year because the offensive line got worse while the Texans rush got better.   LOCKED ON TITANS EVERYDAY CLUB: https://lockedontitans.supercast.com/   Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans   TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop...   Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans   Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod   Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnTitans   Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.   Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 DJ Stroud might look shaky, but the Houston Texans are going to be a tough team for the Tennessee Titans to overcome this year. I'll break it down on today's edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland Titans fans on today's show. going to continue. AFC South rivalry week. We are going to break down the Houston Texans all season.
Starting point is 00:00:41 I'm going to tell you why the Texans are going to be a tough team for the Titans to overcome this year. We'll get inside info from John Hickman from Locked on Texans on what his expectations for the team is going to be. And of course, what he thinks C.J. Stroud is going to look like this year. But we got to
Starting point is 00:00:57 start with my overall thoughts on the Texans all season. And I have to tell you, I don't think that the Texans had a very excited off season. I think it was very boring. They re-signed a lot of their players. We'll get some of the guys that they brought back. Even their draft class wasn't the exciting positions. But I think that's exactly what the Houston Texans needed, sadly. It makes me sad to report. I think the Houston Texans are awesome. One of my hot takes for this season is I think the Houston Texans are a top five team in the NFL. It pains me to say it. But I do like,
Starting point is 00:01:34 what they've done this all season. I think that they needed more reinforcements on the offensive line. They needed better play from their offensive line and the pieces that they shuffled around. They lost Titus Howard offensive tackle. They traded him to the Cleveland Browns. Replaced him though with Braden Smith from the Indianapolis Colts. I think that's a good move. Bring in Wyatt Teller to play guard. They also have Keelon Rutledge who they drafted and again, their draft, not very exciting, not going to, you know, fill the box office. Keelon Rutledge, an interior offensive lineman,
Starting point is 00:02:11 Caden McDonald, a defensive tackle, Marlon Klein, a tight end, not flashy by any means. But again, I think that's exactly where the Texans needed help. They needed more from their interior defensive line to match their incredible edge rush duo of Will Anderson, Jr. and Daniel Hunter. and now they have that with a guy like Cade McDonald, who I mentioned before, Sheldon Rankins as well.
Starting point is 00:02:36 They add Logan Hall in free agency. A guy who I thought, Logan Hall coming from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I thought Logan Hall would be a great fit for the Titans defense. He's kind of that Keldrick Falk style of player, very long, very athletic, can play inside, outside, kind of a three, four defensive end, typical body that can be a versatile piece. So I like Logan Hall on the interior as a rusher as well.
Starting point is 00:03:03 You add that to the edge rush, and I think that's exactly what they needed. They needed to fortify the interior of the offensive line because C.J. Stroud is not a guy who's a great mover. You know what I mean? I don't think he's terrible moving around in the pocket, but he's not somebody who's going to get out of the pocket and escape like Cam Ward or even Trevor Lawrence for that fact.
Starting point is 00:03:23 He's more of a pocket passer, more of just sliding around the pocket. than playmaking, getting out and running around. So fortifying the middle was absolutely critical. And if you're a Titans fan, you cannot act like Keelon Rutledge wasn't a great pick because we know from the reporting of Aaron Wilson, a guy from Houston,
Starting point is 00:03:45 that the Titans were trying to move up in the draft into the mid-20s to get Keelon Rutledge. The Texans knew that the Titans were trying to do that. So they jumped up all the way to, what was it, 25, 26, 25, I think it was. They jumped all the way to 25 to make sure that the Titans couldn't get him because the Titans were actively trying to move up. That's the report.
Starting point is 00:04:11 If you don't want to believe it, fine. I believe Aaron Wilson. He's a good reporter from Houston. Good Twitter follow for NFL transactions and stuff like that, really on the P's and Q's, that kind of stuff. So I believe it. So you can't be looking at Keelon Rutledge and say, that's not a good pick for the Texans when the Titans were doing everything they could
Starting point is 00:04:31 to move up and get him and ended up settling for getting Caldric Falk. And maybe, maybe it works out. Maybe Keldrick Fulk is even better and even more of an impactful player than Kielan Rutledge. I think that's absolutely possible. I don't think that that would be a crazy thing to expect. And it's not like they were picked far enough apart. It's only five or six spots. It's not crazy to think.
Starting point is 00:04:52 But overall, again, those additions are good. They extend Will Anderson, Jr., who's probably the second best, third best pass rusher on the edge in the entire NFL. They extend Aziz Auschwire. They extend DeNeil Hunter as well. They trade for David Montgomery, and that's a big thing. The Texans have to find a run game. Because Stroud is a guy who's going to be, Stroud reminds me of like Jared Golf. If Jared Golf doesn't have a run game and play action off of that and how that can, you know, get a deep.
Starting point is 00:05:26 defense out of position. And C.J. Straub doesn't have that. He's not going to be at his match. He was at his best early in his career when he was play action and off the run game and throwing those deep crossers over the middle of the field just feathering them in with this really, really good touch. He has really good touch on his passes, good accuracy.
Starting point is 00:05:44 But when he's under pressure, he crumbles. And it's clear that when he gets under even further pressure, he's going to make mistakes after those massive turnover games that he had in the playoffs. So you have to give C.J. out of run game. And I think getting David Montgomery in that, Joe Mixing, we're going to hear John Hickman from Locked on Texans here in a second, give a theory on Joe Mixing. I'll save it for that. But boy, it's plausible. You have to
Starting point is 00:06:09 wonder what's going on. But getting David Montgomery in there to balance with the young Woody marks in the backfield, I think that was a good move as well. So I don't think the Houston Texans all season was super flashy by any means. But the additions on the offensive line, the additions on the interior in particular, in both of the trenches, plus in with a better running back. Second year, Nick Cayley's system for the offense. I think Damiqa Ryan's in that defense
Starting point is 00:06:34 is one of the most reliable, consistent things that you're going to find in the NFL right now. I think the Texans are about to be really good. Like, I think they're going to win 12 games. The reality is the Texans were about to go to the Super Bowl last year. If C.J. Stroud didn't pee his pants.
Starting point is 00:06:54 that's truly what it is. That's truly the case. If Stroud just didn't play terribly, they had New England, and then they would have gone up against Denver with a backup quarterback. And they would have made it. It's crazy.
Starting point is 00:07:09 Now, they're, what, the only team in the AFC that hasn't been to an AFC championship game? My guy John Hickman talks about that and what he thinks about that, but I got to tell you, I think, you know, like the Simpsons meme, I'm in danger. We are in danger of the Texans breaking that curse
Starting point is 00:07:29 and finally get into their first ASC championship game. I am worried about it. I think they're winning the division and I just think they're primed for a takeoff. They just need Stroud to not be awful. They don't even need them to be as good as a rookie year. Just don't be awful. And everything else about that team is really good.
Starting point is 00:07:48 Really solid weapons, tight end wide receiver. Now Montgomery in the backfield. if the O line is improved, which I think it will be. The defense is already great. That's secondary with Derek Stingling, Camari Lasseter, Jalen Petrie, Kaelin Bullock, like, that's just, man, they got a good team.
Starting point is 00:08:05 They got a really good team. It's just a reality. And for the Titans to, you know, like with the division this year, you know, we lay our heads down at night, put our head on the pillow and say, please let the Titans just do something magical win the division, like Angels in the outfield or something.
Starting point is 00:08:21 You know what I mean? like we need something like that because this Texans team, I'm sorry. I just think they're going to be hard to beat. They're going to be hard to beat. But sometimes you get a little first year magic. The Jack's got it last year. Maybe the Titans get it this year. But boy, that is a good squad.
Starting point is 00:08:37 Now, that's my take on the Houston Texans. I'm sure some of you guys don't necessarily agree with my take on the Texans. But what about someone from Houston covering the Texans every single day? John Hickman from Locked on Texans is going to draw. join the show now and give us the inside scoop. Do want to let you know that today's episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. We talk about mental health more openly now, but asking for help can still feel hard. And BetterHelp's latest research confirms it.
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Starting point is 00:10:05 H-E-L-P.com slash locked on. Titans fans were continuing our deep dive into the Houston Texans. Now got to get some inside information from one of the goats in the AFC South John Hickman, host of
Starting point is 00:10:40 Locked on Texans. John, I've been high on the Texans so far this off season. I don't expect C.J. Stroud to be quite as bad in the second year of the system. I like some of the improvements the Texans have made. Are people in Houston and are you personally as high on the Texans as it feels like I am? Are you still worried about some of the holes that you see? I'm pretty high on this team this year.
Starting point is 00:11:04 I mean, this is a team coming off of 12 wins last year. One, two months of football straight of games. It ended so bad. bad though. It was so ugly the way it ended that I feel like people have a bad taste in their mouth with the Texans that I don't think should be there. No, absolutely. So I think the way I would describe it is you're getting ready for prom at home and for like a week straight, you're making sure your clothes are straight, your shoes is nice, your jewelry, your tie, everything is great. You put everything on and you feel good. And then you get to the prom. It's kind of
Starting point is 00:11:39 like, damn, I didn't really put my best foot forward. But that doesn't stop you in life, right? You got to the next time you have a big event, you got to get back out there and figure out what works better on your body, your cologne and things of that nature. So I'm getting that is, yeah, I know it ended bad, but it ended bad for a lot of people in high school and prom. That didn't stop them from becoming great people,
Starting point is 00:12:00 getting married in the long run and having kids and selling down and having the American dream. What the Houston, Texas, are in search for right now, is the football American dream. And I say football American dream because I know the football dream, USA was just ended, you know. But for the Houston, Texas, I mean, they did some things in the office season that for some people where there may be nationally or locally, like it's not sexy, right?
Starting point is 00:12:24 Like, they didn't sign an eye grabber name, right? I would say that maybe for a lot of Texan fans, you look at a Kyle Pitts who was available. You may look at some of those other names where you know it's a household name. They didn't go that route, but they still feel voids. I like this tight-in room now, adding Foster Monroe. I drafted Marlon Klein, but obviously the talk of the town, and you know, you've got to go up against a man like Jeffrey Simmons, one of my favorite players in the league. The offensive line here in Houston seems to be, at least on paper, in a much better place than it was last year,
Starting point is 00:12:56 and probably the year prior where Stroud was sacked nearly 60 times. So I think the Texas have done some good things this offseason. Yeah, I think they have as well. I think some of the questions that I have with the Texans are not so much like, do they have the talents? just how well it fits, can people stay healthy, things like that, because there's a specific player, I think, takes the Houston Texans to a different level when he's out on the field.
Starting point is 00:13:21 And it's Tank Dell. What's the update on Tank Dell? Because I think if he's out there, he's healthy, C.J. Stroud looks like a different player. But with where he's at, injury-wise, it's hard to feel confident, right? I think the best news and update that I can give you, because Tankdale did participate in OTAs. So the best news that I can give you is start a training camp, we should all expect
Starting point is 00:13:44 Tankdale out there. The question marks for me are kind of simple, right? Nick Cayley's first year, he didn't have Tankdale. So I'm very interested and intrigued by the thought of him working Tankdale into his offense. Tank, I think, is an incredibly smart player. And this offense does call for wide receivers understanding what the defensive leverage looks like and breaking off of it with those option.
Starting point is 00:14:09 And so I think that's something that St. Dale has soared in in that area. And I think he could continue to soar in that area as well. So didn't work, didn't coach him last year. Nick Caddy didn't get coached by Nick Caddy last year. But the fact remains is he's a talent. And he has been practicing. So whether it was at 70% or 80%, I think once we get to July 21st and then July 28, where all the players are, you know, back out there for OTA.
Starting point is 00:14:35 St. Dale will be out on their field practicing at a higher rate. that's a good point. Nick Cayley didn't coach Tankdale. So when I'm thinking about, hey, Tank Dell set C.J. Stroud off. That's like a piece that he needs. We don't necessarily know based on that coaching staff. But I have some faith that Tankdale, if he can stay healthy, we'll make an impact out there.
Starting point is 00:14:55 But he's got to get the ball from C.J. Stroud. And we talked about the ugly finish and all that. And that does bring us to the Stroud conversation. I had a lot of faith in C.J. Stroud coming out of Ohio State. Was that have or had? Where was the, you had or have a lot of faith? I don't know. I think I have faith that C.J. Stroud could be a good court,
Starting point is 00:15:21 but I thought, I guess what his ceiling was, I thought he had a Joe Burrow ceiling. Like things could go right for C.J. Stroud where he's like a top five, top six quarterback in the NFL, one of the guys who elevates. And I don't know if he can be that anymore, but I think you could still win a Super Bowl with a quarterback like C.J. Stroud, but actually one of your shorts that you put out on your YouTube channel recently,
Starting point is 00:15:44 I used for Locked on NFL, and you were talking about C.J. Stroud taking command of the offense and kind of being more vocal and things like that. And I just wonder if that's the conversation around him and this year coming off that playoffs, are you maybe a little questioning whether Stroud could be that elite guy, everybody thought he was going to be after that first year? Where is the C.J. Stroud conversation? Great question. I do want to address a comment you just said that you thought, and many people did,
Starting point is 00:16:15 especially after 2023, that he'd have that Joe Burrow ceiling. Right. Well, his wide receiver, too, has only played a handful of games since 2023. And missed all of 2025. A crucial year, his third year, we're getting another first time play caller. Joe Burrow didn't have a first time play caller. And back to back, you know, years ago from Bobby Slug, as a rookie, then in your third year, you go to Nick Cayley.
Starting point is 00:16:38 And how good is Sloick? How good is Kaylee? They may both not be very good. I think Kelly is better than Bobby Sloak. I will say that. I think that what you find in Kaylee, what you did not find in the Sloak is the week-to-week adjustments that I thought really helped the Houston, Texas.
Starting point is 00:16:54 If they don't have, like if you swap out the coordinators, I don't think the Houston, Texas, make the playoff last year under those circumstances. And to get back to the Joe Burrow comment, so Burrow goes into the, gets into the league of the year, they make a Super Bowl, which is his, I think, his second year, Jamar Chase, T. Higgins, Joe Mixer.
Starting point is 00:17:11 And I think C.J. O'Dusma at tight-in, maybe? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you look at C.J. Strausser. Uzama. C.J. Strauss second and third year. Yeah, you got Joe Mixing. But then, again, at the end of the year, no tank deal, no Stefan Diggs at the end of that year.
Starting point is 00:17:28 And not another tidy-in outside of Dalton's the site. You go to the third year, no tanked deal at all. The Houston Texans opt to roll with two rookies and Christian Kirk, a receiver opposite of Nico Collins, did not address their tidy-in room. And oh, by the way, the rumors are swirling around a city of fuse and what the hell happened to Joe Mixing. And he shoot himself in the foot. Who knows?
Starting point is 00:17:50 Just speculating here. That's what the city was saying, right? But then you have to go with a Nick Chubb who's older coming off of injury, trying to get himself back to a place. And then fourth round running back in Woody Marks. So I think that for Stroud, has he had some low moments? Absolutely. I mean, we all sort of play our performance. But when we compare him to maybe the other elite
Starting point is 00:18:12 quarterbacks in the league, I think the difference is a competent offense, competent offensive line, and competent playmakers around him, which is something that C.J. Stroud has not had consistently, aside from Nico Collins, who's missed games at the end of the year or in the middle of the year in his career since entering the league in 2022. Now, I know I just hit a lot. The consistent message.
Starting point is 00:18:36 This is the inside info, the context that we're looking for from Locked on Texas. And I just think we have to be fair to the situation as Trott has been put in. His second year, he was sacked nearly 60 times. It was the most pressure quarterback in the NFL. Who's living? Who's living like that? Right? I mean, who was the most sacked quarterback last year?
Starting point is 00:18:57 Cam Ward. And Cam Ward? Cam Ward didn't have a lot of others around him. They were third. I don't know off the top of my head who had the most sacks last year. Well, Cam, I do remember Cam Ward being at the top, you know, Yeah, they had 56 sacks last year. I think it was third or fourth most in the NFL, yeah.
Starting point is 00:19:13 And that's hard for young quarterbacks. Cam was a rookie. It's impossible. So, but the message has been consistent and clear here in Houston that CJ Stroud is locked in. CJ Stroud's command mentally of the offense going into year two is a lot better. And that Stroud has a, you know, more understanding of how to operate the office. That has been the message.
Starting point is 00:19:36 from Stroud, that has been the message from Kaley, that's been the message from Dermico Ryans and other players alike. They feel like, obviously, what else are you going to say about your quarterback, especially coming off of that performance, but the message has been Strouders in a much better place in June of 2026 than he
Starting point is 00:19:52 was in June of 2025. Well, that's what they're going to need, because I think everything else on the team is really good. You talked about the offensive line. The Titans tried to get Keelon Rutledge. They were trying, and the Texans moved up and made sure they got them. That's a real thing.
Starting point is 00:20:08 Whether Titans fans want to accept it or not. We got the center. How about that? Hey, listen, there's just so many battles taking place between the Titans and Texans at all time. John, you don't have to make, I guess, your official prediction, but what do you think the Texans are going to do this year?
Starting point is 00:20:23 Do you think they're finally going to make their run and everything is going to click? Do you think they might flame out early? Do you think they just have a good year? What do you kind of see them as right now, roughly? I'm going off based on what I believe the ceiling will be. every team in the AFC South has at least made it to an AFC championship game. But the 25-year-old franchise, here in Houston, Texas, I think this is the year they get it done.
Starting point is 00:20:46 I really like what the Texans have done with the offensive front. And one of the things that I think Houston will benefit from this year that they did not benefit from last year is the first three weeks of last year's season. They were trying to figure out things on the fly, man. And they were playing at the time really good teams. They played the Rams. They played who had the MVP in Matthew Stafford. played the Buccaneers who before the injury, they were the best team in the NFC South. Then they played the Jacksonville Jaguars who ended up winning the AFC South.
Starting point is 00:21:13 And they were trying to figure things out. I think it's going to be a lot differently this year. They're going to go into week one knowing what Jaden Higgins can do, knowing what Chris, I'm not Chris Kirk, excuse me, Jalen, Noel can do, knowing what this tidy-in bunch can do and just having a better offensive line to provide more than 3.8 yards per carry on the ground for you, running back. So I think all of that is going to benefit C.J. Stroud, obviously, like, we didn't have to talk about the defense because we know what the defense is going to do. We know. Right? And I think that the defense can carry them to an AFC championship game.
Starting point is 00:21:46 I think the office is going to do their job this year to make sure that they walk through those doors. Yeah, I agree with you. I have the Texans. It's like one of the top five or six teams in the entire NFL. I think they're going to be awesome this year. I think they're going to be better. and if C.J. Stroud literally just doesn't like short circuit during the playoffs last year, they probably go to the Super Bowl. So, I mean. Because they get past Denver. Yeah, I think the Texans are formidable bunch this year, which is why it's going to be tough on the Tennessee Titans to get some victories
Starting point is 00:22:18 over the Texans this year. We'll talk about how these rosters match up to finish out today's show. Fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Lockdown Titans podcast. Again, breaking down the Houston Texans after the all. season. I think they made smart moves. I like the Texans this year. My guy John Hickman from Locked on Texans. He talked about that he likes the Texans this year, the Stroud situation and what's going on there. So a lot to dive into. But ultimately, how the Tennessee Titans match up with the Houston Texans, I think it's going to be hard for the Titans to get a victory against Houston
Starting point is 00:23:11 in their two matchups this year. Before I talk about why, I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans, your first listen each and every day. Speaking of every day, want to remind you to hit the link down below in the description and join the Locked on Titans Every Day or Club today. You're going to get commercial free versions of the podcast in your favorite podcast app. You're going to get added to the Locked on Titans every day or group chat with me and all the other Locked on Titans every dayers. Make sure you're a true locked on Titans every day or hit the link down below in the description and join up now. But again, I don't know if the Titans are going to get one against the Texans.
Starting point is 00:23:49 I just have to be blatantly honest with you guys. I'm not certain. I'm not. The way that these teams match up, just their defense doesn't have flaws. The Titans have a good wide receiver group. Well, the Texans have a great secondary. The Titans have a good or a bad offensive line.
Starting point is 00:24:16 The Texans have a great defensive line. So the secondary can cancel out the Titans, the defensive line can dominate. Where are the Titans supposed to go? What's the move? Like, it's just going to be difficult. That's all I know. And then if the Texans, offense, gets better in any way,
Starting point is 00:24:44 it'll probably be enough to help out their defense. Now, that's where the Titans, that's where the Titans have to find a way. I mean, the Titans got shut out. against Houston. Last year, 26 nothing. Only scored 13 in the second game. So that's an average of Kerry the two, six and a half points per game.
Starting point is 00:25:07 Now, it could be better than that, but is it going to be enough? Now, again, where the Titans have, if the Texans' offensive line isn't as improved as I think it's going to be. Wyatt Teller gets injured a lot. Kielan Rutledge, they're trying him at center
Starting point is 00:25:25 when he's been a guard. Is that going to work? Braden Smith, the Colts let him go. They thought that they could replace him. That might be something from a team that always has a good offensive line. Now, they do have Trent Brown as a backup as well, which I think is pretty good depth.
Starting point is 00:25:41 Blake Fisher, a former second round pick who probably isn't as good as you wanted for a second round pick, but still decent depth on the offensive line. But if the offensive line isn't as good, if the Titans' defensive line is just the best defensive line in the entire NFL, which is possible. I'll tell you, it's possible. But you just need a lot of things to break, I think, for the Titans to win these games.
Starting point is 00:26:06 Now, getting help from the schedule could help the Titans a little bit going against the Texans. The Texans, I haven't examined the Texans' schedule all the way, but if they have some tough matchups leading up to their game against the Titans, that could help the Titans. Don't know that that's the case, but that would be nice. You look at the Titans matchups against the Texans. They're coming off in a way game against Baltimore,
Starting point is 00:26:40 so the Titans aren't getting any help to back-to-back away games at the Giants, at the Ravens, and then they play their home game against Houston, and then away again against the Colts. That's a pretty tough stretch right there with Houston in the middle of it. And then the problem is, the Titans have their buy in week nine. They don't play Texans until the final week of the season. Now, here's what could get the Titans a win.
Starting point is 00:27:02 Here's what could get the Titans a win. If the Texans have wrapped up the division and they play their backups. Now, I wonder what the Titans record will be at that time because that'll determine how excited we are to take that win or not. Right? if the Titans have won four or five games going into that week
Starting point is 00:27:25 and then we play the Texans' backups because they're sitting everybody, I don't think I'll want to win that game. It's not going to feel good. It's not, you know. Now maybe I'll say, hey, they want to go out on a high note, maybe where the draft pick situation is,
Starting point is 00:27:38 it's not even going to matter that much. They're not in, you know, they're not going to drop too far or it's not going to help that much. So we're like, screw it, let's win the game. Be curious to see where are at the last week of the season. Boy, I don't want to speed there. Let's just get the week one. You know what I mean? Gosh, imagine when we're to the last week of the season. I'm so
Starting point is 00:27:58 excited for the year. It's going to be such a sad day, hopefully, because the season was fun. You know what I mean? But maybe the Titans are able to split with the Texans because of that. Maybe the Texans aren't as good as I think they're going to be. And the Titans are pretty good this year. Seven, eight win, range, and they go in and they play spoiler and they knock the Texans out of the playoffs. Now, I got to be honest with you, I hate Jacksonville more than I hate Houston. I don't like Houston. Don't get me wrong. You know, we're talking about the lesser of two evils here. I hate all the AFC South teams other than the Titans, but I hate Jacksonville more. Get out of here, Jaguars. But either way, I want the Titans to win. So if the Titans win a game and it
Starting point is 00:28:45 hurts a division rival, even if it helps Jacksonville win it or something, I'd still be happy about that. But that's the path for the Titans to get a win against the Texans, honestly. It's for the Titans to overperform, the Texans to underperform my expectations, and the Titans to get them in Week 18, because I think it's going to be hard to get them early in the season, even though that's a whole game. But with that being said, that is going to do it for me today, folks.
Starting point is 00:29:09 Tomorrow is going to be our deep dive into the Indianapolis Colts. and then that will cap off AFC South Rivalry Week. But with that being said, again, that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.

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