Texans 26, Titans 3: Anderson's Three Sacks, First Win

October 11, 2026 - Nashville - Third-and-11. Jeffery Simmons had C.J. Stroud. Stroud got out, found Kayshon Boutte tiptoeing the sideline for 23, and kept a 17-play drive alive. Eight minutes and 23 seconds later he sneaked from 2. 19-3. The Houston Texans had been 0-4. They were not going to leave Nissan Stadium that way.

They beat the Tennessee Titans 26-3 for their first win. It is the second straight season Houston ended an opening skid by beating Tennessee, per the AP. The Texans are 1-4. The Titans are 0-5. Stroud was 26 of 34 for 261, a 9-yard score to Jaylin Noel, the 2-yard run, no picks, and a 107.6 rating. He has not thrown an interception this season.

DeMeco Ryans took over the defensive play-calling this week. Will Anderson Jr. had three of Houston's four sacks. Danielle Hunter had the other. Cam Ward was 23 of 36 for 170, no touchdowns, one pick, four sacks.

3-3, then kicks until the keeper

Joey Slye and Ka'imi Fairbairn traded first-quarter field goals. 3-3. Houston reached the Tennessee 20 twice before the half and settled. Fairbairn made 35 and 26 after two takeaways, then 53 with under two minutes left in the second, per ESPN and the Texans' game-day feed. 12-3 at the half. The Titans did not score again.

Jake Hansen intercepted Ward for the first pick of his career, per VanderBlog. Dominique Robinson forced a fumble. Fairbairn finished 4 of 4, including that 50-plus make, and two extra points. The first half was a kicking game. The second half was not.

The 17-play march used 8:23. Boutte's 23-yarder on third-and-11 kept it from another kick. Stroud finished it himself. 19-3. Noel scored from 9 to open the fourth. 26-3. The 26 points were the most Tennessee has allowed this season, per the club blog.

A first win that did not need 300 passing yards

Nico Collins caught five for 56. Xavier Hutchinson led Houston with four for 65. Noel had five for 41 and the score. Boutte had three for 38. Dalton Schultz had three for 30. Woody Marks ran 15 times for 62 and caught four for 23. David Montgomery added five carries for 11.

Tony Pollard ran 14 times for 52. Wan'Dale Robinson caught six for 53. Calvin Ridley had two for 33. Tyjae Spears caught nine for 28 and lost a fumble. Amani Hooker was still in concussion protocol. Kevin Winston Jr. left with a tight quadriceps. Cor'Dale Flott hurt his chest. Tony Adams returned after a concussion evaluation, per the AP.

Ryans called Anderson relentless. Anderson had been quiet for three quarters and then took over when Tennessee had to throw. VanderBlog closed Houston's last visit to the current Nissan Stadium at 13-12 all-time in Nashville. The next one is Jacksonville.

AthX Engine on three sacks

AthX Engine NFL scoring already has the Week 5 Sunday lines in. Anderson's three sacks land at 97.00, the top total in this game and on this Sunday batch. Hunter is 40.00. Fairbairn is 38.00. Stroud is 34.13. Hansen is 33.50. Houston's team line is 89.25. Tennessee is -34.00.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Anderson after a three-sack night, and for Stroud finally walking off with a win after four efficient losses. They move together. They are not the same number.

Track Anderson, Stroud, Collins, Ward, and both clubs on the marketplace. Houston visits Jacksonville on Oct. 18. Tennessee visits Indianapolis that afternoon.

*Sources: ESPN recap, Texans.com VanderBlog, Texans box score, AP recap. Club box, ESPN, and nflverse agree on 26-3, Stroud 26-of-34 for 261 with a rushing score, Ward 23-of-36 for 170 and one interception, Anderson three sacks. Fairbairn's four field-goal distances are from ESPN (35, 26) plus the Texans game-day 53-yard make; nflverse buckets confirm one kick from 50-plus. AthX Engine Week 5 lines scored from nflverse weekly stats (CC-BY 4.0). Information only; not financial advice.*