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NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Fresh off a record-setting performance at Lambeau Field, the
Tennessee Titans
return home Sunday to face the
Houston Texans
, a team they have never lost to.
In a Monday night prime time showing, the Titans rolled to a 48-27 rout of the
Green Bay Packers
. Behind
Chris Brown
's two first-half touchdowns and a defense that forced six turnovers, Tennessee scored more points than any opponent in Lambeau Field history.
The triumph could not have come at a better time as it snapped a three-game losing streak, the Titans' first since early in the 2002 season. And with their finest offensive output since a 48-17 win over Cincinnati in 1990, the club enters a stretch of three out of four games at home on a high note.
Tennessee seemed inspired Monday by the return of
Steve McNair
, who sat out the previous week's loss at San Diego with a bruised sternum. Against a reeling Packers squad, McNair amassed 206 yards passing, two touchdowns and did not turn the ball over.
In two wins over the Texans last year, McNair was at his best en route to NFL co-Most Valuable Player honors. On October 12, he threw for a career-high 421 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-17 rout.
In a rematch at Houston in Week 16, he had another 268 yards passing and led Tennessee on a game-winning touchdown drive, capped by a 23-yard pass to
Drew Bennett
with 17 seconds left.
That dramatic 27-24 win boosted the Titans to 4-0 all-time vs. the Texans.
Sunday could be different, however, if Tennessee cannot defend its home turf against an upstart team that no longer sees itself as an also-ran in the competitive AFC South. The Titans are 0-2 at home this year and must contend with the dynamic duo of
David Carr
and
Andre Johnson
.
Carr and Johnson have established themselves as one of the top young quarterback-receiver connections in the league. Sunday's overtime loss to Minnesota snapped the team's first ever winning streak at two games but did nothing to detract from the tandem's rising stock.
Carr threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns, two to Johnson, to lead Houston back from a 21-0 deficit and into overtime. Entering Week 6, Carr ranks second in the NFL in passing yards while Johnson is third overall among receivers.
In their last road effort, the Texans used a game-winning field goal by
Kris Brown
to knock off the
Kansas City Chiefs
, 24-21.
Matchup to watch:
Andre Johnson
faces Titans right cornerback
Samari Rolle
, one of the league's best cover corners.
Series: Tenessee, 4-0.
Next Week: Houston has a bye, October 24. Tennessee visits Minnesota, October 24.
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