The Sports Xchange
Dec 27, 2015
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Houston Texans quarterback Brandon Weeden snapped a personal 11-game losing streak as a starter in the place where everyone goes to get well.
Completing 15 of 24 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, Weeden led Houston to a 34-6 rout of the inept Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Racking up a quarterback rating of 116.7, Weeden broke the game open in the third quarter with scoring strikes of 15 and 13 yards to wide receivers DeAndre Watkins and Nate Washington, respectively.
Weeden also added a 7-yard touchdown run with 2:32 left in the first half as he posted his first win as a starter since December 2012, when he played for the Cleveland Browns. He entered Sunday's game with a 5-18 career record as a starter.
In improving to 8-7, the Texans moved one step away from an AFC South title. They can clinch by strength of victory tiebreaker before Week 16 ends, or wrap it up in Week 17 with a home win over Jacksonville.
Tennessee offered little resistance in absorbing its third straight loss and dropping to 2-14 at home over the last two years. The Titans committed four turnovers, leading to 17 points, and managed only 257 yards and 13 first downs.
Quarterback Zach Mettenberger completed 27 of 51 passes for 234 yards and an interception. Mettenberger managed to avert Tennessee's first-ever home shutout since moving from Houston on a 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tre McBride with 1:31 left in the game.
The Titans started two first half possessions at the Texans' 25 and 40, respectively, and had to punt both times. Penalties kept them out of field-goal range the first time and three incomplete passes aborted the other possession.
Houston strong safety Quintin Demps gave his team the lead for good 1:59 into the game, picking up a fumble by running back Antonio Andrews and rumbling 33 yards.
Kicker Nick Novak added 22 and 34-yard field goals for the Texans.
NOTES: Tennessee WR Kendall Wright (knee) and LT Taylor Lewan (concussion) left the game in the first half and did not return. ... Houston OLB Jadeveon Clowney (foot) departed in the fourth quarter and wasn't able to return. ... Titans FS Michael Griffin notched his 900th career tackle in the first half.