Convenience Big Store: How undermanned Texans pulled off a dramatic win over Titans

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Today's starting lineup

It's said that clothes make the man. Well, the threads the Tennessee Titans wore Sunday were certainly defining — and not in a good way. Donning Houston Oilers throwback uniforms with the Texans in town, the Titans melted down in Oilers-esque fashion as the Texans, minus several starters, came back to take an overtime win in Nashville.

A dominating Texans defense helped lead the way and keep the team in the game. That helped fill-in quarterback Case Keenum to show why coach DeMeco Ryans trusted him in place of the injured C.J. Stroud, engineering the tying drive late in regulation and the winning march in OT to set up Ka'imi Fairbairn's walk-off field goal. We also have our weekly report card and a closer look at the game's biggest play: a bit of thievery by Dalton Schultz that preceded the tying score. What does it mean for the playoff picture? While the Texans are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South, they still find themselves out of a playoff spot. We explain why here.

The Rockets saw their five-game winning streak end Sunday in Milwaukee, with the Bucks' superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard too much for Houston's defense. Dillon Brooks and coach Ime Udoka, ejected in the final seconds, then sounded off on the officiating afterward.

Stat of the day: 1. Quarterback in Texans history to start under three different head coaches: Case Keenum, who's started for Gary Kubiak, Bill O'Brien and DeMeco Ryans.

Greg Rajan, Texas Sports Nation editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

NFL Week 15: Texans 19, Titans 16 (OT)

Houston Texans defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins (98) and Khalil Davis (94) sack Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) during the first half of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Getting defensive

The Texans sacked Will Levis seven times and held Derrick Henry to 10 total yards to set the stage for overtime heroes Case Keenum and Ka'imi Fairbairn in Sunday's win.

Can't dismiss Case: Making his first start in two years, Case Keenum stepped in for an injured C.J. Stroud and showed why DeMeco Ryans trusted the veteran quarterback.
Playoff picture: The Texans are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South but tiebreakers currently keep them out of a playoff spot.
Report card: We grade the performances of the Texans' units and coaches after pulling off a gutsy win over the division rival Titans.
Turning point: Dalton Schultz wresting the ball away from a Titans defender helped the Texans tie the score and force overtime before they prevailed Sunday.
How it happened: For the ninth time in the past 10 games, the Texans take things to the wire. Here's how Sunday's win played out.
Houston ties that bind: With Earl Campbell on hand, the Titans honored former Oiler Billy "Whtie Shoes" Johnson and wore throwback jerseys to the franchise's Houston roots

Rockets / NBA

Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks (9) yells to an official after being ejected during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Photo by: Aaron Gash/Associated Press

Boiling point

Dillon Brooks and Ime Udoka, whose seven technical fouls apiece lead NBA players and coaches, respectively, sound off on the officiating after their ejections late in Sunday's loss.

Streak snapped: The Rockets stayed in the game until late, but could not get their defense going in time to slow down the Bucks in a road loss.
Closing time: As promised, coach Ime Udoka has gone with hot hands in the fourth quarter, rather than automatically putting starters back in the game.
Rockets-Cavaliers preview: The Rockets face the Cavaliers tonight having lost each of their past three trips to Cleveland and five of their past six games against the Cavaliers.

High School Football

North Shore head coach Willie Gaston is seen alongside quarterback Kaleb Bailey during the second half of the 6A Division I UIL state championship game at AT&T Stadium, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, in Arlington.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Staff Photographer

Bar stays high

Willie Gaston, in leading North Shore to the state final in his first year as head coach, embraced the pressure of continuing the success of a dominant program.

Something to savor: The first Humble ISD school to play in a state final, Summer Creek had a season to remember despite a loss in the championship game.