Houston Texans vs Tennessee Titans: prediction, preview, pick to win

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Nissan Stadium. TV: CBS, Tom McCarthy, Adam Archuleta.

SERIES HISTORY: 30th regular-season meeting. Texans lead the series, 15-14, and have won six in a row, including a 27-20 decision in Week 4 in Houston.

KEYS TO THE GAME:

The Texans' offense is expected to try to build a rhythm with new quarterback Tom Savage after a rough start last week.

Savage was added to the injury report with a knee injury. However, he participated fully and is on schedule to start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Savage came up limping during a 12-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals during his first NFL start, but the injury isn't regarded as serious. It's unlikely he'll depart Sunday's game unless it becomes a blowout or he is more seriously injured, as he needs every rep he can get with a playoff assignment on the horizon for next weekend.

With Marcus Mariota out of the mix, the Titans will rely more than ever on their running game. It won't be easy as the Texans defense is ranked first overall in the league. That puts the onus squarely on the offensive line, which had been playing very well, but struggled last week in Jacksonville.

The Titans won't want to put too much on QB Matt Cassel, who will be making his first start of the year in the season finale. Defensively, look for the Titans to put the heat on Tom Savage and make him try to beat them. Still, they will need a pass rush to keep their weak secondary from being exploited.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Titans LT Taylor Lewan vs. Texans DE Jadeveon Clowney. This is a battle of former first-round picks and 2016 Pro Bowl selections. Lewan needs to not only protect Matt Cassel but help open holes for DeMarco Murray and the Titans' run game, which needs to rebound after being held to a season-low 58 yards last week in Jacksonville.

--Titans RBs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry vs. Texans LB Benardrick McKinney. McKinney has emerged as a mobile, active, aggressive linebacker in his second NFL season. Murray and Henry provide power and speed for one of the NFL's top rushing attacks.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT

HOUSTON TEXANS

--Out: DE Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, wrist), RB Lamar Miller (ankle), RB Jay Prosch (ankle, knee), LB John Simon (chest)

--Questionable: LB Brian Cushing (ankle), CB Johnathan Joseph (ribs, shoulder, illness)

TENNESSEE TITANS

--Questionable: CB Jason McCourty (chest)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:

Titans QB Matt Cassel. The old veteran, brought in this season to help mentor Marcus Mariota, gets a chance to play Sunday due to Mariota's season-ending leg injury. Cassel has been bouncing around the league the past few years and is on a one-year deal. The Titans might have interest in retaining him, especially if he performs well Sunday.

FAST FACTS:

-- Texans QB Tom Savage has 436 passing yards in the past two games and 387 yards in the past two games against the division.

-- Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins is one of nine receivers in NFL history with 50 catches and 800 yards in each of his first four seasons. He has 453 yards and four TD catches in the past four games against Tennessee.

-- Houston LB Benardrick McKinney is the only NFL player with 125 tackles (128) and five sacks (5).

-- Titans QB Matt Cassel threw a TD pass in relief last week. He passed for 201 yards and three TDs in his last start vs. Houston on Oct. 17, 2010, with Kansas City.

-- Titans RB DeMarco Murray ranks third in the NFL with 1,266 rushing yards, his third season with 1,000 yards. Since 2014, he leads the NFL with 3,813 yards and is tied for second with 28 rushing TDs. He has 1,609 scrimmage yards, eighth most in franchise history.

-- Since 2011, DT Jurrell Casey is fifth among NFL DTs with 54 tackles for loss.

PREDICTION:

Flip a coin on this one. Will the Texans play all their guys with a division title securely in their hip pocket? And will the Titans bounce back from the disappointment of blowing a shot at a surprise AFC South crown to finish with their first winning season since 2011? Ultimately, it might come down to the loss of Mariota, as Cassel is nowhere near as dynamic as the kid who came into his own this year. Houston preps for the playoffs with a low-scoring win and finishes 10-6.

OUR PICK: Texans, 17-13.

--Bucky Dent