Despite opening the season with a 1-4 run, the Houston Texans (7-7) are in the driver's seat in the AFC South, and can punch their ticket into the playoffs with a win over the Tennessee Titans (3-11) on Sunday.
Texans vs. Titans 2015 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Texans can clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Titans on Sunday, but they may have to relay on Brandon Weeden to get it.
The Texans took down the rival Indianapolis Colts in their last game, weathering a storm of bad luck at the quarterback position to pull out the 16-10 lead. They were benefited by some quarterback issues for Indianapolis as well, but they're only focused on their own issues heading into Week 16 against the Titans.
In fact, the whole division is a mess when it comes to quarterbacks outside of Jacksonville Jaguars starter Blake Bortles.
Tennessee drafted Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, but Mariota is out with a knee injury and Zach Mettenberger will be starting. Mariota has had a good rookie season and the Titans have to be encouraged heading into the offseason, especially with a high draft pick going their way.
But for now, they're going to be focused on playing spoiler for the Texans. The Colts can still come back and win the division, though with Matt Hasselbeck guiding the team to a losing skid in recent weeks, it doesn't seem likely.
Winning for the Texans will likely depend on a player who wasn't even on the roster when the season got underway: Brandon Weeden. Houston's situation at quarterback has been a roller coaster this year. Bill O'Brien named Brian Hoyer the started after a preseason battle with Ryan Mallett, but Hoyer was benched in the first game despite being told he would not be on a short leash.
Mallett did not play well, and was eventually replaced by Hoyer at the end of one game, and then again before Hoyer was named the full-time starter. Hoyer led the team to a few wins and the Texans started to look competitive while the Colts floundered. Unfortunately, Hoyer is dealing with a concussion that has forced him to miss time, leading the Texans to go to backup T.J. Yates after Mallett was released for violating team rules.
It gets worse. Yates had to go on injured reserve with an injury of his own and Weeden, signed after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys -- after he was insufficient as a backup for Tony Romo -- is now the starter. Weeden holds the postseason future for the Texans in his hand, provided Hoyer does miss Sunday's game, as expected.
If he can get them a win on Sunday, the Texans will grab the fourth seed in the AFC and will host a wild card playoff game. Weeden completed 11 of 18 passes for 105 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against the Colts in Week 15. He has completed 70.7 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and two interceptions in five games this year.
He’ll be dueling Mettenberger, who was not given a chance to compete with Mariota in the offseason. Mettenberger has completed 69 of 102 passes for 663 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
How to watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tenn.
TV: CBS
Commentators: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcotts
Online: Verizon NFL Mobile
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