Texans beat Titans 26-3 for first win as Stroud runs, throws for two scores

Texans run away with it in Nashville

Houston beat Tennessee 26-3 at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, snapping an 0-4 start and picking up its first win of the season. The Titans led 3-0 after a 30-yard Joey Slye field goal in the first quarter, but Houston answered right away and never trailed again. Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals in the first half, from 45, 35, 26 and 53 yards, and Houston took a 12-3 lead into the break.

The Texans put it away in the third quarter when C.J. Stroud scored on a 2-yard run, then added a fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Jaylin Noel from 9 yards out. Houston outgained Tennessee 329 yards to 187 for the game and held the Titans to a season-low total in the process. Tennessee turned the ball over twice. Houston did not turn it over at all, and finished with 20 first downs to the Titans' 15.

Stroud's two-way day

Stroud threw for 261 yards and a touchdown and added the rushing score, finishing 26 of 34 passing. Xavier Hutchinson caught four passes for 65 yards to lead Houston's receivers, and Woody Marks ran 15 times for 62 yards. On defense, Will Anderson Jr. had three of the team's four sacks, and Azeez Al-Shaair led everyone with 11 tackles.

Stroud also talked afterward about getting a new teammate, following a trade bringing Marvin Harrison Jr. over from Arizona. "I loved him in college," Stroud said of his former Ohio State teammate. Coach DeMeco Ryans, who took over Houston's defensive play-calling this week, kept it simple: "We're thankful right now to get our first win."

Titans hit a new low

Tennessee dropped to 0-5, its worst start since 2009, and the loss extended the franchise's AFC South skid to 11 straight games. Cam Ward threw for 170 yards on 23-of-36 passing with an interception, Tony Pollard ran for 52 yards on 14 carries, and Wan'Dale Robinson caught six passes for 53 yards, but it was not enough once Houston pulled away. Tennessee finished with just 57 rushing yards and 130 passing yards as a team, and committed 7 penalties for 83 yards.

First-year coach Robert Saleh tried to keep perspective afterward. "One game is not going to define us," he said. The Titans were already banged up, with Kevin Winston Jr. (quadriceps) and Cor'Dale Flott (chest) both listed questionable, and Nicholas Singleton and David Martin-Robinson sitting out.

What it means

For Houston, the win snaps a four-game skid to open the season and came with the defense forcing two turnovers and generating pressure most of the afternoon behind Anderson's three sacks. For Tennessee, the loss piles onto an already rough year, now six straight losses dating back to last season. Houston dominated the middle two quarters 16-0 on the way to the final, while the Titans head into their bye at 0-5 looking for answers.

Facts per ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.