C.J. Stroud leads Texans to 26-3 win over Titans
C.J. Stroud ran for a touchdown and threw for another to lead the Houston Texans to a 26-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 11, 2026, the AP reported. Ka’imi Fairbairn provided 12 points with four field goals, and Joey Slye’s 30-yard kick produced Tennessee’s only score. The win marked Houston’s first of the season and gave the Texans a brief respite after a difficult start.
Tennessee opened the scoring with Slye’s 30-yard field goal, but Fairbairn responded with a 45-yarder in the first quarter and added field goals of 35, 26 and 53 yards in the second to put Houston ahead 12-3 at halftime. Houston’s defense kept the Titans off the scoreboard in the second half, forcing Tennessee into limited opportunities. The Texans extended the lead in the third quarter on a sustained drive.
Stroud capped a 17-play, 74-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make it 19-3. Early in the fourth, he connected with Jaylin Noel on a 9-yard touchdown pass that completed a 7-play, 74-yard series and pushed the margin to 26-3. Houston converted long possessions into points while Tennessee was unable to mount a second-half rally.
The victory improved the Houston Texans to 1-4 overall and 1-1 on the road, while the Tennessee Titans fell to 0-5, according to the AP. AP coverage also noted that after the game the Texans’ coach said Stroud would be reunited with an old Ohio State teammate, though the account did not provide further details. The announcement adds a developing storyline to Houston’s first win.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Stroud’s ability to produce a rushing and a passing touchdown in the same game underscored his dual-threat value and was the decisive factor in a game Houston controlled after halftime. Fairbairn’s four field goals show the Texans could move the ball consistently but leaned on the kicker to convert drives into points. Houston’s defense deserves credit for shutting out Tennessee after the first quarter and limiting the Titans to a lone field goal. With the record still under .500, the Texans can take momentum from the win while questions remain about translating sustained drives into more touchdowns.