Houston Texans

Top Five Texans vs. Titans Games

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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This week the Texans renew arguably their most intense rivalry–that with the former Houston occupying Tennessee Titans. The two teams have played a number of memorable games since the inception of the rivalry in 2002. Here are the top five contests between the two teams:

5. December 10, 2006: Titans 26, Texans 20 (OT)

This one turned out to be a loss for the Texans, but still it was a great game. The number one overall pick in the 2006 draft (Mario Williams) by the Texans went up against third overall pick Vince Young, former Texas Longhorns hero who led them to a National Championship the prior year. Ron Dayne ran for two touchdowns and Travis Henry countered for Tennessee with two touchdowns of his own. Neither quarterback, Young or David Carr, threw a touchdown pass in the game.

Of course, the play everyone remembers was the overtime touchdown run by Young from 39 yards out that gave the Titans the overtime win. Meanwhile, Mario Williams managed just three tackles in the game. However, long term the Texans got the last laugh. Young flamed out after a couple seasons and Williams would become a very good pass rusher.

4. September 15, 2013: Texans 30, Titans 24 (OT)

One of the few bright spots of the 2013 campaign was the week two win over the Titans. They started the season 2-0 but then lost 14 straight after that. Matt Schaub threw three touchdown passes, starting just 2:30 into it with one to Garrett Graham. After going down 10-7, Schaub hooked up with Owen Daniels for a 12 yard score in the third quarter to give the Texans the lead.

Joe Mays got a safety to put the Texans up 16-10, then Jake Locker found Delanie Walker for his second touchdown to give the Titans a one point lead. A pick six by Alturraun Verner gave the Titans a 24-16 lead. But with less than two minutes to go Arian Foster ran for a one yard touchdown and then converted the two point try to tie the game at 24 each.

In overtime, DeAndre Hopkins caught a three yard touchdown pass to give the Texans the win. The game was not as close as the score indicated.

3. January 1, 2012: Titans 23, Texans 22

Houston had already clinched their first division title so this week 17 game meant very little to them. But the Titans still had a wild card spot hanging in the balance.

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In the first quarter, Ben Tate ran for a four yard touchdown to open the scoring and put the Texans up 7-0. The Titans would rebound in the second quarter with two field goals from Rob Bironas and a touchdown from Matt Hasselbeck to Donnie Avery to put the Titans up 13-10 going into halftime.

In the third quarter the teams traded field goals and then on the first play of the fourth quarter Neil Rackers tied it up with a 22 yarder to make it 16 each. With less than five minutes to go Hasselbeck hooked up with Nate Washington to give the Titans a 23-16 lead. But with just 14 seconds left Jake Delhomme hit Bryant Johnson (yes, both of them played for the Texans) to bring them within one. But on the extra point attempt the snap was high and the Texans were not able to tie the game up. Still, it did not cost them anything as they rolled into the playoffs as the number three seed.

2. October 17, 2004: Texans 20, Titans 10

It was the first win for the Texans after being swept by the Titans during each of the first two seasons.

Kris Brown gave the Texans a 3-0 lead, but in the second quarter Steve McNair hit Drew Bennett for a touchdown to give the Titans a 7-3 lead. Just over three minutes later Carr hit Jabar Gaffney for a 20 yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7 Texans. A 40 yard field goal by Gary Anderson tied the game, then before half Brown hit a 50 yarder.

In the fourth quarter, Jonathan Wells sealed the win for the Texans with a four yard touchdown run.

1. September 20, 2009: Texans 34, Titans 31

Coming off a 13-3 season in 2008, the Titans had high hopes going into the 2009 season. Kerry Collins was the catalyst behind the Titans rise, but struggled in 2009. He threw two touchdowns while Matt Schaub threw for four.

But Chris Johnson was still in his prime and in the first quarter had touchdown runs of 57 and 69 yards. He would finish with 197 yards on the ground in this game. Schaub hit Andre Johnson for a 19 yard touchdown sandwiched between the two Johnson touchdowns in the first quarter.

Collins hit Washington in the second quarter to make it 21-7 Titans. But it took only 85 seconds for Schaub to collect two more touchdowns. He hit Johnson for a 72 yarder just 16 seconds after Washington scored. Just over a minute later he hooked up with Jacoby Jones on a 29 yarder to tie the game.

The Texans got the lead with a Brown field goal, but Bironas would tie the game right before half. In the third quarter, Johnson ripped off a 91 yard touchdown run to give the Titans the lead back. But Schaub found Daniels for his fourth touchdown to tie the game. Then a 23 yard field goal by Brown with just under three minutes to go gave the Texans the win.

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