Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans

For the Tennessee Titans, the 2024 NFL season has been a campaign of unmet expectations, and their Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans— a 27-17 defeat at Nissan Stadium—served as a painful showcase of their most persistent struggles. What was supposed to be a divisional matchup against a rebuilding Texans team turned into a one-sided affair, with Houston exploiting the Titans’ flaws at every turn: an offense that sputters in critical moments, a defense unable to stop the run, and a lack of clutch play that has haunted them all season. This loss wasn’t just a blip on the radar; it was a microcosm of the Titans’ season, laying bare issues that have kept them stuck in the AFC South basement. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans explores how this defeat amplified their weaknesses, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team’s direction for the rest of the year.

One of the most glaring struggles highlighted by the loss was the Titans’ offensive inability to sustain drives and convert critical downs—especially in the red zone, where they repeatedly squandered scoring opportunities. Throughout the game, the Titans’ offense moved the ball between the 20s but stalled when it mattered most: they went 1-for-4 on fourth downs, 2-for-10 on third downs, and failed to score a touchdown on two red-zone trips. The most frustrating sequence came in the second quarter, when the Titans drove 65 yards to the Texans’ 8-yard line, only to settle for a field goal after quarterback Ryan Tannehill threw an incomplete pass on third-and-2. The clip of that drive—shared widely on social media—shows the offense looking disjointed: Tannehill hesitated before passing, running back Derrick Henry was met by three defenders at the line of scrimmage, and the offensive line failed to create gaps. This red-zone inefficiency isn’t new for the Titans—they rank 28th in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage this season—but the loss to the Texans made it impossible to ignore. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans emphasizes that an offense that can’t finish drives against a Texans defense ranked 22nd in points allowed is a team destined to lose more games than it wins.

Another major struggle exposed by the loss was the Titans’ defensive inability to stop the run, which let Texans running back Devin Singletary dominate the game and control the clock. Singletary rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries, averaging 5.5 yards per rush—well above his season average of 4.1. Time and again, the Texans ran the ball up the middle or off the edge, finding holes in the Titans’ defensive line and linebacking corps. A particularly damaging sequence came in the third quarter, when Singletary broke free for a 25-yard touchdown run, pushing the Texans’ lead to 20-10. The replay shows Singletary easily evading Titans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who took a poor angle, and then outrunning safety Kevin Byard to the end zone. This run-stopping issue has plagued the Titans all season—they rank 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game—and the loss to the Texans highlighted just how costly it can be. When a team can’t stop the run, it forces the defense to stay on the field longer, wears down players, and limits the offense’s time of possession. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans notes that until the Titans fix their run defense, they’ll continue to lose games to teams that prioritize the ground game.

For the Tennessee Titans, the loss also highlighted their struggle with turnovers and poor decision-making—mistakes that handed the Texans momentum and easy points. The Titans committed two turnovers in the game: a Tannehill interception in the first quarter that set up a Texans field goal, and a Henry fumble in the fourth quarter that led to a Houston touchdown. The interception was particularly costly: with the Titans trailing 7-3, Tannehill tried to force a pass to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was double-covered, and Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. picked it off at the Texans’ 25-yard line. The fumble came later, when Henry was hit by Texans defensive tackle Maliek Collins and lost the ball, which Houston recovered at the Titans’ 30-yard line. Three plays later, Singletary scored his second touchdown, putting the game out of reach. Turnovers have been a season-long problem for the Titans—they rank 25th in the NFL in turnover differential—and the loss to the Texans showed how quickly a single mistake can swing a game. For the Tennessee Titans, these turnovers aren’t just bad luck; they’re the result of poor decision-making and a lack of focus, issues that need to be fixed if they want to avoid more lopsided losses. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans explores how these mistakes turned a competitive game into a rout, leaving the Titans with little to build on for the next week.

The Tennessee Titans’ struggle with slow starts was also amplified by the loss, as they fell behind early and were forced to play catch-up—something they’ve failed to do consistently this season. The Texans scored on their first two drives, taking a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, and the Titans never fully recovered. Part of the problem was the Titans’ defense, which looked flat and disorganized in the early going: they gave up a 75-yard touchdown drive on Houston’s first possession, with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completing all four of his passes for 62 yards. The offense didn’t fare any better, with their first three drives ending in a punt, a field goal, and an interception. This slow-start issue has been a theme for the Titans in 2024—they’ve trailed at the end of the first quarter in 8 of their 11 games—and it’s hard to win when you’re always playing from behind. When a team falls behind early, it forces the offense to abandon the run and throw more, which plays into the hands of defenses. For the Tennessee Titans, the slow start against the Texans wasn’t just a bad quarter—it was a reflection of a team that lacks the energy and focus to start games strong. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans emphasizes that until the Titans figure out how to come out of the gate ready to play, they’ll continue to dig themselves into holes they can’t climb out of.

Finally, the loss to the Texans highlighted the Titans’ struggle with depth—especially on defense, where injuries and poor substitutions left them unable to stop the Texans’ attack in the second half. The Titans were without two key defensive players: defensive end Denico Autry (ankle injury) and linebacker David Long Jr. (hamstring injury), and their backups failed to step up. Autry’s replacement, defensive end Rashad Weaver, recorded just one tackle and no sacks, while Long’s replacement, Al-Shaair, struggled to contain Singletary. This lack of depth became even more apparent in the fourth quarter, when the Texans drove 80 yards for a touchdown to seal the game—Weaver was beaten by Texans tackle Tytus Howard on three straight plays, and Al-Shaair missed a tackle that let Singletary gain 10 yards on third-and-5. Depth issues have plagued the Titans all season, as they’ve relied too heavily on aging veterans and failed to develop young players. For the Tennessee Titans, this lack of depth means they can’t afford injuries—something that’s impossible to avoid over a 17-game season. Week 11 Loss to Texans Highlights Struggles for the Tennessee Titans concludes that until the Titans invest in building a deeper roster, they’ll continue to struggle when key players get hurt. This loss wasn’t just a defeat—it was a wake-up call, showing that the Titans’ struggles are deeper than a single game and will require significant changes to fix.