Texans can win AFC South with victory over struggling Titans

They’ll have to thrive amid uncertainty again this week as they look to secure it. They will likely have to start Branden Weeden over Brian Hoyer today, as they attempt to claim a fourth straight win over the Tennessee Titans, who will have to replace the injured Marcus Mariota with Zach Mettenberger.

Texans ILB Benardrick McKinney: After what coaches called his best game as a pro, McKinney’s confidence and productivity are increasing on a parallel plain.

After last week’s win over the Colts, the Texans now control their own destiny in the AFC South. With a win they can clinch the division, due to a strength of victory tiebreaker over Indianapolis.

Although Hoyer has made strides from his second concussion of the season, this one suffered against the New England Patriots, the team and Hoyer are proceeding cautiously with him. Quarterback Brandon Weeden would see his first action as the Houston Texans 4th starting QB of the year. He’s played well on special teams and should get more opportunities to make his impact in the secondary.

“My confidence and my timing is just not what it needs to be, ” Weeden said. I haven’t thrown any of those routes to any of those guys, so that just comes with time. “To be where I want to be, I definitely have to be a mature leader of the team, and I think I’m getting to that point”.

“I know it’s kind of out of my hands at this point”. I feel good and now the doctors are basically evaluating that.

DeAndre Hopkins is having a field day against the Titans. It would also leave less time for the Texans pass rush to get to Mettenberger. Mettenberger was on the receiving end of each, and that defeat cost coach Ken Whisenhunt his job.

-S Da’Norris Searcy (hamstring) practiced after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury and is a little further along in his return than the Titans originally believed.

FAST FACTS: With 1.5 sacks, Watt would join Reggie White as the only players with 15-plus sacks in three of his first five National Football League seasons. Hoyer returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis, but Weeden still is planning on starting Sunday, with the recently signed B.J. Daniels around in case of emergency.ABOUT THE TITANS (3-11): Tennessee will proceed cautiously with Mariota, who already has been ruled out for this week but not the remainder of the season.