Matt Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes and the Tennessee Titans kept alive their playoff hopes with a 23-22 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

The Titans (9-7) earned their first winning record since 2008 in Mike Munchak‘s first season, but their postseason fate depended on the outcome of later games in Cincinnati, Oakland and Denver. Tennessee got some early help when the New York Jets lost in Miami.Houston (10-6) will head into its first postseason on a three-game losing streak. The Texans were locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and coach Gary Kubiak played mostly reserves in the second half.

Via: ESPN.com

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Unfortunately, the past two games were a bit of a blur, and aside from that we were lacking our defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, on account of medical leave, as well as, Andre Johnson.

Luckily, great news has surfaced, and the two are expected to return for the last game of the season! We are set to kickoff against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, January 1, 2012.

Good Luck #TeamTexans !!!!!!!

Follow me on Twitter ====> @Michele979

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The NFL is going to have a tough call on its hands today when league vice president of football operations Ray Anderson sits down to examine the brawl between Tennessee cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who started it, and Houston wideout Andre Johnson, who finished it.  Read More:

The Texans snapped a four-game losing streak while Johnson and Finnegan were ejected for an ugly two-man brawl in the fourth quarter of a 20-0 Houston win over Tennessee on Sunday.

Bad football is not a victimless crime.  It can be emotionally distressful for a populace — fans and non-fans alike – to be associated with a team like the Texans, who have gone from bottom-of-the-league laughingstock to, well, middle-of-the-league laughingstock.  Read More:

*Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young texted coach Jeff Fisher an apology Tuesday for his actions and words after a chain of events that culminated with him walking out on the team.

Fisher confirmed for reporters Wednesday that he received the text but that he would have preferred a face-to-face discussion with Young.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vince Young outdueled Matt Leinart again with yet another spectacular winning drive.
Young hit a leaping Kenny Britt for a 10-yard touchdown as time expired, and the Tennessee Titans rallied to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 Sunday for their fifth straight victory.
Young won his ninth straight start and improved to 23-11 in his career by driving the Titans 99 yards in the final 2:37. He converted three fourth downs on the drive, two to Britt. He threw for a career-high 387 yards in beating Leinart in their first meeting as professionals and first overall since the BCS national championship in January 2006.
The Titans (5-6) have not lost since Young replaced Kerry Collins as the starter. They are the first team to win five in a row after starting 0-6.
Arizona (7-4) snapped a three-game winning streak. Leinart made his first start since Oct. 7, 2007 as the Cardinals sat Kurt Warner with a sore neck, looking ahead to an NFC matchup with Minnesota next week.
Leinart threw for 220 yards, LaRod Stephens-Howling returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and Tim Hightower also ran for a TD for Arizona. But the Cardinals lost for the first time this season away from home with Warner watching from the sideline wearing sweats.
Just as Young had the ball last in that memorable Rose Bowl game for Texas over Southern California, he did it again in style. Young found Britt on fourth-and-4 from the Titans 7 for a 10-yard completion, and he hit Lavelle Hawkins on fourth-and-4 at the Arizona 44 with a 13-yarder.
Young connected with rookie Jared Cook for 17 yards on third-and-5 to the Arizona 9 before needing all four plays to get into the end zone. But he did it when he found Britt to start the crowd celebrating at the stirring and surprising comeback win.
The Titans outgained Arizona 532-292, a season high for Tennessee. Darnell Dockett had three of Arizona’s four sacks of Young.
The winning drive almost overshadowed the record-setting performance by Titans running back Chris Johnson.
He matched the NFL mark held by Earl Campbell (1980) and Eric Dickerson (1984) by running for at least 125 yards in his sixth straight game. Johnson topped 125 yards Sunday with an 85-yard touchdown gallop late in the third quarter, and he also turned in the most yards rushing in November, a mark previously held by Barry Sanders (1997).
Johnson finished with 18 carries for 154 yards.
Britt’s touchdown catch helped make up for his turnover with 4:38 left. Young had just hit the rookie for a 51-yard completion to the Arizona 30 when Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played on this field in college at Tennessee State, poked the ball free. Bryant McFadden recovered.
The Titans forced Leinart and the Cardinals to punt. Stephens-Howling downed the ball at the 1, setting up Young’s latest heroics.
Tennessee was up 6-3 at halftime before two huge plays in the third quarter.
Only one defender got an arm on Johnson as he broke through the line and ran 85 yards for a 13-3 lead with 3:37 left. Stephens-Howling took the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown — the first allowed by the Titans since Dec. 26, 1999.
Leinart guided Arizona to its first lead of the game, driving the Cardinals 80 yards in nine plays. Hightower scored on a 6-yard run for a 17-13 edge with 12:20 left. It looked like it would be enough as Stephens-Howling downed two punts inside the Tennessee 2 in the final six minutes.
Young had other ideas.

Via: Google News

Houston has not been this devastated since the Oilers left town.

In the most important game in team history, the Texans blew a chance to force overtime on their last series for the fourth time this season.

As a result of their 20-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Texans are wallowing in a 5-5 quagmire of mediocrity.

For the second consecutive game, Kris Brown missed a field goal that would have tied the score and sent the game into overtime. Brown followed his 42-yard misfire at Indianapolis by missing a 49-yarder with one second left Monday night at Reliant Stadium, securing the Titans’ fourth consecutive victory before a record crowd of 71,153.

With ESPN taking this one coast to coast, Rob Bironas kicked a 53-yard field goal with 47 seconds left to give the Titans the three-point advantage. It was Bironas’ second field goal of the game and his 14th at Reliant Stadium in the past three years.

“It’s very disheartening,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “It was a great game. They’re a hell of a team. Give them credit.”

The Texans got the ball one last time at their 38-yard line. They had two timeouts.

Quarterback Matt Schaub, who was 25-of-39 for 305 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, completed passes of 11 and 14 yards to David Anderson and 6 yards to Kevin Walter to the Titans’ 31.

With eight seconds left, Schaub carried the ball to the middle of the field to set the stage for Brown, but he missed his second 49-yard field-goal try of the game.

Devastating miss

“You feel for a guy like that,” said cornerback Dunta Robinson, who has been Brown’s teammate since 2004. “Kris has been good for us for so many years. Back-to-back weeks he’s missed a field goal, and you know how hard he works, how hard he prepares, the kind of competitor he is.

“We know he’s taking it hard. There are a lot of things we didn’t do in this game that ultimately led to the loss.”

The Texans’ running game was nonexistent again, so they had to relay on Schaub, who threw touchdown passes to Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson.

Chris Brown carried 11 times for 36 yards. Slaton had 21 yards on five carries.

Before Bironas kicked his game-winning field goal, Slaton was open at the 50 when he dropped a third-down pass. The defense blew it because the Texans couldn’t keep the Titans from scoring even though Tennessee began its last drive at its 6.

The Texans, who lost their second in a row, have suffered four consecutive defeats by blowing a chance at overtime on their last series.

“In this league, there’s no time to feel sorry for yourself,” Kubiak said.

After an 0-6 start, the Titans are 4-6 — one game behind the Texans.

“It’s frustrating how much we put into it and how hard everyone played,” Schaub said. “

The Titans increased their winning streak to four games, and quarterback Vince Young elevated his record against his hometown team to 4-0.

This was the biggest game in Texans history, and they couldn’t perform to expectations. They were favored by four, and they were called out by Tennessee linebacker Keith Bulluck, who said the Titans would destroy their playoff hopes and aspirations.

No answer

Bulluck backed up the big talk. He threw down the gauntlet, but the Texans couldn’t pick it up.

The Texans had no answer for Chris Johnson, the NFL’s leading rusher. He carried 29 times for 151 yards. He rushed for 348 yards in two games against the Texans this season.

Young hurt the Texans more with his legs than his arm. He ran 11 times for 73 yards. He was especially effective on third down, picking up one first down after another.

“You’ve got to expect that,” outside linebacker Brian Cushing said about Young’s scrambling. “That’s his key weapon. If he doesn’t see anything, he’s going to tuck it and run.”

Young completed 12 of 22 attempts for 116 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t throw an interception. He lost a fumble the Texans couldn’t take advantage of.

The Titans ran for 228 yards to 57 for the Texans. Tennessee outgained the Texans 344 to 340 and controlled the clock for 32:18.

Via: Chron.com

“I wouldn’t say it’s about me,” quarterback Vince Young said after Tennessee’s 20-17 road victory over Houston. “It’s not about Vince.”

Come on. It’s all about Vince when it comes to the Tennessee Titans.

With all due respect to NFL rushing leader Chris Johnson, Tennessee assuredly isn’t riding a four-game winning streak without Young being reinserted into the starting lineup last month at the insistence of team owner Bud Adams. And the Titans definitely aren’t upsetting a division rival Monday night without Young excelling with both his arm and legs.

Young keyed the game-winning drive with a 12-yard third-down scramble and short completion to Kenny Britt that set up Rob Bironas’ 53-yard field goal with 47 seconds remaining. After Houston kicker Kris Brown missed a 49-yard field goal with one second left, Young was so excited that he forgot to remove his Titans baseball cap when taking the field for the final snap.

“I don’t think there’s been a conversation I’ve had with Vince where the word ‘Houston’ hasn’t come out of his mouth,” said Titans tight end Alge Crumpler, referring to Young’s hometown. “This is a special place for Vince Young.”

In some ways, Young has even more reason to celebrate than when he scrambled 39 yards for an overtime touchdown to defeat Houston as a rookie in 2006.

He’s a better quarterback since losing his starting job to Kerry Collins in Week 2 of last season and finally getting it back. He’s a better teammate since receiving what Crumpler described as a dose of humility. And he has a brighter NFL future after it appeared Young had none with the Titans.

Young is again proving the dual threat that helped make him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2006 draft. Although he lost a fumble, Young didn’t throw an interception against Houston in an efficient 12-of-22, 116-yard performance. Young added 73 more yards on 11 carries to complement Johnson’s 151-yard rushing effort.

“I’m excited for him with all he endured over the past year hearing, ‘He can’t do this. He can’t do that,’” Titans tight end Bo Scaife said. “He’s being humble and modest about it. He’s showing everything on the field now.”

Young began showcasing his tools Monday during Tennessee’s third series. Young threw sharp passes and used his feet, including an option that netted a 17-yard gain by Johnson after the pitch.

And then there was the play that combined both those skills. On third-and-3 from the Houston 13-yard line, Young rolled to his right looking to connect with a covered Johnson in the flat. In the past, Young might have immediately run up-field or forced a throw to Johnson. Young, though, went to his second read and flicked a touchdown to Britt that tied the score at 7-7.

This is the type of progress that excites Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger.

“He’s protecting the ball and making pretty good decisions,” Heimerdinger told FOXSports.com last week in a telephone interview. “The best thing he’s done is go through his progressions. If there’s nothing there, he’ll pull it down and run with no indecision. That’s what makes Vince Vince.”

But trying to figure out what makes Vince tick was a frustrating process for the Titans. He failed to progress after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Young then hit bottom in the 2008 season opener. He balked at re-entering the game when booed by the home crowd and acted so erratically the next day that Titans officials called police because of concerns Young was suicidal.

Young was benched in favor of Collins and spent the rest of the year sulking. Collins might still be under center if Adams hadn’t demanded that Young play after Tennessee’s 0-6 start this year.

Owner meddling is usually a recipe for disaster — just look at the Washington Redskins — but Young is proving that Adams made the right call. Young’s completion percentage has improved significantly and turnover total dropped compared to his career averages. This is the result of an improved work ethic that has allowed Young to regain the trust of teammates and coaches.

Young also matured off the field. The subject of embarrassing 2008 internet photos showing him partying shirtless with his buddies at a bar, Young has said he changed the crowd he associates with away from football.

“I see a different guy than last year,” Heimerdinger said. “His approach is much different. He’s really working hard.

“Older guys stay in the league because they prepare. Younger guys sometimes don’t because they don’t prepare. They think talent is going to get them through forever.”

Young, 26, said he learned from watching Collins and asking plenty of questions. He also benefited from the tutoring of quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson, who continued to work with Young while Heimerdinger and Fisher focused on Collins as their starter.

“I’m just taking what the defense gives,” Young said. “If it’s there [in the passing game], take advantage of it. If it’s not, give the ball to the guys underneath or use my legs to make a play. It’s all about being patient.”

Tennessee now seems certain to give Young nearly $12 million in roster bonus and base salary for the 2010 season. But even with a 4-6 record, the Titans aren’t ready to look ahead toward next year quite yet. After Monday’s game, Tennessee players continued to talk about stringing together a 10-game winning streak to reach the playoffs.

Unlikely? Sure. But if No. 10 continues to play like a Perfect Ten, Tennessee has a shot. That’s more than what could be said about the Titans — and Young himself — not so long ago.

Via: Fox Sports