Texans beat skidding Titans 19-14 in frozen stadium

The Houston Texans have been fighting, scrapping and clawing, only to come up short too many times this season.

Not this time — not even after having to wait an extra hour to kick off.

Davis Mills threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks with 2:52 left, and the Texans snapped a nine-game skid by beating the sliding Tennessee Titans 19-14 Saturday in a game delayed because of power issues.

“We needed this one,” first-year Houston coach Lovie Smith said. “We had a (Friday) night meeting. It was about a three-game season. We’re 2-1-1 in the division, and we want to end up with the best record in our division. We finish up with two more division opponents, so those games are huge for us.”

His Texans (2-12-1) had lost five one-score games this season, including each of the past two weeks.

This kickoff was delayed by an hour in a joint agreement by the Titans, the NFL and local emergency management officials after rolling power blackouts. Tennessee had crews working at Nissan Stadium since the extreme cold front moved into the area Thursday, blowing open some windows and bursting at least 36 water pipes at the stadium.

Even with the delay, it was the coldest home game in Titans history with a temperature of 20 at kickoff and the wind chill at 6.

Linebacker Christian Harris intercepted rookie Malik Willis at the Houston 41 with 1:33 left, and Texans safety Jalen Pitre picked off Willis’ final pass in the end zone to seal the victory.

The Titans (7-8) have blown their four-game lead atop the AFC South, falling into a tie with Jacksonville. Their five-game skid is their longest since owner Amy Adams Strunk fired coach Ken Whisenhunt after a sixth straight loss in November 2015.




Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills (10) attempts a pass against Tennessee Titans linebacker Bud Dupree (48) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)