Ryan Fitzpatrick threw six touchdown passes to lead the Houston Texans to a 45-21 win over AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans in the NFL this evening.
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Fitzpatrick returned to the starting quarterback role after Ryan Mallett was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, and he made a quick start, finding tight end Ryan Griffin in the corner of the endzone for the opening touchdown.
Zach Mettenberger tried to respond for the Titans, but his pass was picked off by Johnathan Joseph, who returned it back into Tennessee territory.
The Houston offense made the most of the turnover as Fitzpatrick found Arian Foster with a short pass.
Mettenberger was in trouble again before the end of the second quarter as JJ Watt sacked the quarterback to bring Fitzpatrick back onto the field, setting him up for a 58-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins.
The visitors made a bright start to the second half, with Mettenberger getting the ball to Kendall Wright early on, and the receiver ran down the sideline to find the endzone for the team's first points of the day.
The Tennessee comeback continued when Jason McCourty stripped the ball from Andre Johnson before running it back for a second Titans touchdown shortly after.
The hosts made sure that they kept themselves well ahead on their next drive as Fitzpatrick went deep to Hopkins again, and the second-year wide receiver held on for his second score of the day.
Johnson made amends for his earlier fumble at the start of the fourth quarter, finding the endzone for Houston's fifth touchdown of the day.
Things continued to get worse for the Texans when Mettenberger was forced out of the game with a shoulder injury.
Jake Locker filled in, but lost the ball when Watt sacked him, and the defensive end returned it back into Tennessee territory.
Watt stayed on the field with the offense as a tight end and hauled in the touchdown pass for his third offensive score and fifth in total this season.
Locker added a late consolation, connecting with Nate Washington in the final moments, but it did not prevent the visitors suffering a heavy defeat.
The result leaves the Texans second in the division with a 6-6 record, while the Titans slip to 2-10.
Sian Cowper
