Texans have QB questions again after 24-17 loss to Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Houston Texans are going into the playoffs with their quarterback situation unsettled once again, this time a combination of injury and improved play by Brock Osweiler.
Tom Savage wound up sidelined by a concussion Sunday, and Osweiler played well enough after coming off the bench in Houston's 24-17 loss at Tennessee that coach Bill O'Brien said the Texans will be evaluating who starts their AFC wild-card game.
''We will talk about that as a staff,'' O'Brien said. ''We will talk about that tomorrow and the next day.''
Savage started for the AFC South champions, left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and was cleared. He took a snap to kneel down on the final play of the first half, and O'Brien told team radio Savage would play in the second half. But Savage was diagnosed with a concussion after being re-evaluated at halftime.
O'Brien said he did not know what happened. The Texans (9-7) will host Oakland (12-4) next weekend.
That left Osweiler, benched during a win over Jacksonville on Dec. 18, running the offense. He threw for 253 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a 1-yard TD on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter.
Osweiler had one final chance to tie with Houston getting the ball with 53 seconds left. But he was sacked and threw incomplete on fourth down as Tennessee held on.
''He did a good job,'' O'Brien said. ''He competed. Guys got open for him. He threw the ball. Did a nice job for us.''
Osweiler, the quarterback signed away from Denver for $72 million, said he absolutely wants to start in the playoffs.
''You play this game to be a starter,'' Osweiler said. ''You play this game to contribute positively to your team, so I would absolutely love to start this playoff game. But at the end of the day I don't make those decisions.''
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said nobody panicked when Savage left the game.
''We hate that Tom went down the way he did,'' Hopkins said. The guy's just getting his chance in this league. But this is the NFL, and it's next man up.''
DaQuan Jones recovered a fumble for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Titans never trailed to finish with their first winning season since 2011.
The Titans (9-7) also ended a five-game skid to the two-time AFC South champs, who had beaten Tennessee eight of the previous nine games in this series. With their six-win improvement from going 3-13 in 2015, the Titans matched the biggest one-year turnaround in franchise history, previously set in 1967 and 1974.
Matt Cassel also threw for a touchdown in his first start this season in place of an injured Marcus Mariota, and Derrick Henry ran for a TD.
The Texans had little at stake except sweeping the AFC South for the first time in franchise history. They deactivated six starters before kickoff and had just one starter in on defense by midway through the third quarter. Undrafted rookie Joel Heath had two of the Texans' four sacks.
MISSING IN ACTION
O'Brien said running back Lamar Miller, who missed his second straight game with an injured ankle, should be back for the playoffs. Fullback Jay Prosch also was deactivated. On defense, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, linebackers John Simon and Brian Cushing and cornerback Johnathan Joseph also did not dress. O'Brien said quarterback Brandon Weeden was the only healthy player deactivated.
ATOP AFC
DeMarco Murray came into the regular-season finale trailing Pittsburgh's Le'Veon Bell by two yards for the most yards rushing in the AFC. Pittsburgh rested Bell for the playoffs. Murray struggled to find running room against Houston, which has allowed an NFL-stingiest 68 yards rushing per game since Week 8. Murray finished with 21 yards on 11 in his worst performance this season.
Murray finished with 1,287 yards and said after the game he finished the season with a torn plantar plate, a ligament on the bottom of his right foot.
QUOTABLE
''Winning is hard to do, and obviously a really good feeling,'' Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. ''But still disappointment as we are not playing. Feel a little bit empty here that we don't have a chance to keep going after today. This is a lesson ... learned.''
UP NEXT
Texans: Figuring out who starts at quarterback.
Titans: A busy offseason featuring two first-round draft picks and lots of salary cap space to accelerate rebuilding.
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This story has been updated to include Houston's playoff opponent, the Oakland Raiders.
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For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.
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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker
Copyright 2017 by STATS LLC. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC is strictly prohibited.
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
B. Osweiler
17 QB
22 FPTS
|
B. Osweiler | 21/40 | 253 | 1 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Savage
3 QB
-1 FPTS
|
T. Savage | 5/8 | 25 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Blue
28 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Blue | 11 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Grimes
41 RB
4 FPTS
|
J. Grimes | 8 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Savage
3 QB
-1 FPTS
|
T. Savage | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Osweiler
17 QB
22 FPTS
|
B. Osweiler | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Hopkins
10 WR
12 FPTS
|
D. Hopkins | 11 | 7 | 123 | 0 | 51 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Williams
82 WR
4 FPTS
|
W. Williams | 4 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 26 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Grimes
41 RB
4 FPTS
|
J. Grimes | 5 | 4 | 33 | 0 | 12 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Fuller
15 WR
2 FPTS
|
W. Fuller | 7 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Mumphery
12 WR
2 FPTS
|
K. Mumphery | 4 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Blue
28 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Blue | 4 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Fiedorowicz
87 TE
7 FPTS
|
C. Fiedorowicz | 7 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Griffin
84 TE
1 FPTS
|
R. Griffin | 4 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Anderson
89 TE
0 FPTS
|
S. Anderson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
D. Rice
22 SAF
|
D. Rice | 6-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Moore
43 SS
|
C. Moore | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Covington
95 DE
|
C. Covington | 4-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Pleasant
35 DB
|
E. Pleasant | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hal
29 FS
|
A. Hal | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Heath
93 DE
|
J. Heath | 3-0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bullough
53 ILB
|
M. Bullough | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Hunt
33 RB
|
A. Hunt | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Peters
52 LB
|
B. Peters | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Nelson
32 DB
|
R. Nelson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
U. Kamalu
97 DE
|
U. Kamalu | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bouye
21 CB
|
A. Bouye | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jones
20 DB
|
D. Jones | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jackson
25 CB
|
K. Jackson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Scarlett
57 LB
|
B. Scarlett | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. McKinney
55 ILB
|
B. McKinney | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Mercilus
59 OLB
|
W. Mercilus | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Reader
98 DE
|
D. Reader | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Demps
27 SS
|
Q. Demps | 1-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
N. Novak
8 K
0 FPTS
|
N. Novak | 1/2 | 26 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
S. Lechler
9 P
|
S. Lechler | 3 | 47.3 | 0 | 49 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Hunt
33 RB
0 FPTS
|
A. Hunt | 2 | 14.5 | 19 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Ervin 34 RB
0 FPTS
|
T. Ervin | 2 | 3.0 | 7 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. Cassel
16 QB
10 FPTS
|
M. Cassel | 16/26 | 150 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. Henry
22 RB
12 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 15 | 65 | 1 | 14 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Murray
29 RB
2 FPTS
|
D. Murray | 11 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mariani
87 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Mariani | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Cassel
16 QB
10 FPTS
|
M. Cassel | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
R. Matthews
18 WR
17 FPTS
|
R. Matthews | 13 | 9 | 114 | 1 | 50 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Walker
82 TE
3 FPTS
|
D. Walker | 8 | 5 | 35 | 0 | 15 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Henry
22 RB
12 FPTS
|
D. Henry | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sharpe
19 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Sharpe | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Murray
29 RB
2 FPTS
|
D. Murray | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 | 2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
W. Woodyard
59 ILB
|
W. Woodyard | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Williamson
54 ILB
|
A. Williamson | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Casey
99 DE
|
J. Casey | 4-2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Searcy
21 SS
|
D. Searcy | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Spence
55 ILB
|
S. Spence | 3-2 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Sims
36 CB
|
L. Sims | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
An. Woods
75 DT
|
An. Woods | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Byard
31 FS
|
K. Byard | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Johnson
25 FS
|
R. Johnson | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Blake
47 DB
|
V. Blake | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. McCain
23 CB
|
B. McCain | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Morgan
91 OLB
|
D. Morgan | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Lewan
77 T
|
T. Lewan | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Al. Woods
96 NT
|
Al. Woods | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Supernaw
89 TE
|
P. Supernaw | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Stafford
24 SS
|
D. Stafford | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Orakpo
98 OLB
|
B. Orakpo | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Johnson
94 NT
|
A. Johnson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Reed
32 DB
|
K. Reed | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Brinkley
48 LS
|
B. Brinkley | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Palmer
50 LB
|
N. Palmer | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jones
90 DE
|
D. Jones | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. Succop
4 K
0 FPTS
|
R. Succop | 1/1 | 35 | 3/3 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Kern
6 P
|
B. Kern | 5 | 42.2 | 5 | 48 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Andrews
26 RB
0 FPTS
|
A. Andrews | 2 | 2.5 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mariani
87 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Mariani | 1 | 19.0 | 19 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
M. Mariani 87 WR
1 FPTS
|
M. Mariani | 3 | 13.7 | 18 | 0 |