Titans Drop Fifth Straight Game, This One a 19-14 Loss to the Texans

NASHVILLE – The weather outside was frightful.

The result, well, it was not delightful for the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans lost 19-14 to the Houston Texans on a frigid Saturday in Music City.

"It's extremely (difficult)," Titans safety Kevin Byard said. "It's the most frustrating time (since I've been here). You try to keep things in perspective obviously with Christmas Eve and Christmas. I am thankful to play this game with the group that I'm playing with. I'm grateful to be able to lead these guys. But it's just not enough right now."

Temperature at kickoff was 20 degrees, with a wind chill of six degrees, making it the coldest home in Nissan Stadium history.

Malik Willis started the game at quarterback for the Titans, in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill. Willis ran for a touchdown while completing 14-of-23 passes for 99 yards, but he also threw two interceptions late.

Titans running back Derrick Henry ran for 126 yards and a touchdown in the contest.

"It just comes down to the consistency, and I know that sounds like a broken record for me," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said. "But that's where we're at right now. The margin for error is pretty thin, so when you give up some plays defensively, some x plays, and turn the ball over.

"I'm disappointed, and they're disappointed."

The loss was Tennessee's fifth in a row, and it dropped the Titans (7-8) to below .500 for the first time since September.

The Titans took a 7-0 lead on a 48-yard touchdown run by Henry, who broke loose and into space on a handoff up the middle.

The Texans tied it 7-7 when running back Rex Burkhead recovered a fumble in the end zone, and they proceeded to take a 10-7 lead on a 25-yard field goal by kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn.

After a fourth-and-short stop by Titans defensive lineman Denico Autry at the 48-yard line, the Titans took over with good field position.

The Titans then reclaimed the lead at 14-10 on a 14-yard touchdown run by Willis, who escaped the grasp of five Texans on the way to the end zone.

Another field goal by Fairbairn made it 14-13 with 7:25 left in the game.

The Texans then took a 19-14 lead on a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Davis Mills to receiver Brandin Cooks with 2:52 left.

Willis was intercepted on a pass intended for receiver Treylon Burks with just under two minutes to play, and he threw an interception on a desperation pass on the final play of the game.

The Titans return to action on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys at Nissan Stadium.

"It's always unfortunate, coming out of the game with an L, especially after getting up," Willis said. "We just have to keep fighting, keep going. It's on to the next. There's nothing we can do about it now but learn from it."