Houston Texans record three interceptions, roll past Tennessee Titans 37-11 in Week 5

Nashville, TN - The Houston Texans steadily created separation and turned a matchup of winning teams into a one-sided Week 5 result, defeating the Tennessee Titans 37-11.

Houston paired an efficient offensive performance with three interceptions of Cam Ward, while Tennessee went 0-for-10 on third down. The Texans finished with 358 offensive yards, converted half of their 14 third-down opportunities and scored on each of their five trips to the red zone.

The margin grew as the game progressed, with Houston maintaining its balance and Tennessee unable to produce a sustained response. Although the teams posted similar passing totals, the Texans held clear advantages on the ground, in first downs and in situational efficiency. Houston recorded 20 first downs to Tennessee's 12 and rushed for 124 yards compared with the Titans' 36.

C.J. Stroud completed 25 of 36 passes for 234 yards and an 87.0 passer rating. His longest completion covered 22 yards, and he did not throw an interception against a Tennessee defense that recorded two sacks.

"We didn't have to chase anything," Stroud said. "We stayed patient, kept getting the ball to different people and finished our opportunities. That's the kind of rhythm you want to play with."

Houston's running backs supplied three touchdowns. David Montgomery rushed 12 times for 51 yards and scored twice, while Woody Marks added 55 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Their production gave the Texans two viable options in a rushing attack that finished 88 yards ahead of Tennessee's.

The passing game was built around volume and short-to-intermediate production. Dalton Schultz led Houston with 88 yards on seven receptions, including a 22-yard catch, while Tank Dell caught nine passes for 76 yards. Together, they accounted for 16 of Stroud's 25 completions and 164 of his 234 passing yards.

Houston was equally sharp near the goal line. Its five red-zone appearances produced four touchdowns and one field goal. The Texans also converted both of their fourth-down attempts, complementing a 7-for-14 showing on third down.

Ward faced a much more uneven afternoon. He completed 18 of 41 attempts for 227 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, finishing with a 39.3 passer rating. His longest completion went for 41 yards, but Tennessee's passing production came with frequent empty possessions as the Titans failed to convert any of their 10 third downs.

"Three interceptions and no third-down conversions - that's a hard combination to overcome," Ward said. "There were some completions there, but not enough consistency. I have to be better with the football and give us more chances to stay on the field."

Wan'Dale Robinson was Tennessee's leading receiver, catching four passes for 80 yards and a touchdown. His 41-yard reception was the Titans' longest completion. Still, Tennessee finished with 263 offensive yards and managed only 11 points as Houston continued to play from ahead and widen the margin.

Three different Texans defenders recorded interceptions. Jalen Pitre returned his interception 17 yards and added two pass deflections, Calen Bullock had a 22-yard interception return, and Henry To'oTo'o recorded an interception with a 10-yard return while sharing Houston's lone sack.

"When the ball is there, you have to finish the play," Pitre said. "We had three guys do that today. Holding them without a third-down conversion is something the whole defense can take pride in."

The contrast between the quarterbacks was substantial, but Houston's broader statistical profile also reflected the final margin. The Texans produced 95 more offensive yards, eight more first downs and nearly 90 more rushing yards. Tennessee did convert three of five fourth-down attempts, but its third-down struggles and three interceptions remained prominent features of the loss.

Houston left Nashville with a 26-point victory after reaching 37 points through balanced rushing production, reliable receiving work from Schultz and Dell, and a defense that intercepted Ward three times.

Up Next

The Houston Texans will remain on the road in Week 6 to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Tennessee Titans will travel to meet the Indianapolis Colts as they look to rebound from the loss.