The Titans grabbed a win Sunday against the Houston Texans 13-10 moving the Titans to 4-9 on the season. One day later we take a look to see what the Houston sportswriters have to say about the Texans falling to the Titans.

''A beleaguered Dom Capers walked slowly into the post-game interview room at The Coliseum, stopped at the podium and took a deep breath before putting the Texans' latest defeat in perspective.

Eight minutes earlier, Capers had trotted off the field after a 13-10 loss to Tennessee in which usually reliable kicker Kris Brown missed a 31-yard field goal with no time remaining.

''I've never been through anything like the last three weeks,'' Capers said about losing to St. Louis in overtime and to Baltimore with 10 seconds left before Sunday's defeat. ''It's a rough business. It's disappointing and frustrating. It challenges you and tests you.''

Later, as Capers walked through the dressing room offering support to his players, owner Bob McNair was surrounded by reporters.

Because the Texans blew a lead for the third week in a row and still have the NFL's worst record at 1-12, McNair was asked if he's aware of fans and media who charge that his team is losing on purpose to get Southern Cal running back Reggie Bush.

''That's ridiculous,'' McNair said with a scowl.

Despite keeping the Titans' offense out of the end zone, avoiding turnovers and opening holes for Domanick Davis to rush for 139 yards, the Texans have a six-game losing streak for the second time this season.

Quarterback David Carr, who was sacked six times, including five in the first half, bristled when the subject of losing on purpose was brought up.

''Guys have not shut it down,'' said Carr, who was 17-of-26 for 116 yards and a touchdown. ''It's unbelievable that someone would go out as a professional and even think about something happening like that.

''We wouldn't have had games come down to the last play if that was true.''

The Texans have three more games to earn some respect and redemption. They host Arizona and Jacksonville before ending the season at 2-11 San Francisco.

''These last three games have been unbelievable,'' McNair said. ''If life were fair, you'd have to say that because the players play so hard, they deserve to win. It's almost like fate had determined that Tennessee was going to win this game.''
John McClain
Houston Chronicle

''No wonder the Texans have the worst record in the NFL. They keep inventing ways to lose.

The 13-10 loss to Tennessee on Sunday was their third consecutive last-minute defeat and dropped their record to 1-12.

''Obviously, we've done something to offend the football gods,'' a dejected center Steve McKinney said in a tomblike dressing room. ''They must really hate us right now.''

McKinney was part of an offensive line that did an exceptional job of run blocking for the second consecutive game, but the team wasted Domanick Davis' 139-yard performance.

''I don't know if it's karma or what, but to lose three in a row under these circumstances is so frustrating,'' McKinney said before letting out a deep sigh.''
John McClain
Houston Chronicle

''Texans for Bush? The campaign is heating up with every horrible ending, every stunning twist.

The latest is Sunday's 13-10 Music City Moribund performance that ended with a Kris Brown duck-hook and a few normally out-of-bounds questions.

To suggest that the Texans would be better off trying to lose these meaningless games for the sake of gaining the No. 1 NFL draft pick — that Laurence Olivier could have just as well been the kicker, it was such an act — is of course ludicrous.

''It's kind of bad for the game for somebody to make that statement,'' Texans defensive tackle Robaire Smith said. ''We're professionals.''

Gary Walker bristled over such a suggestion. David Carr laughed it off. Owner Bob McNair dared someone to imply such a thing more directly.

''I would say come out on the field and stand up against our players and make that statement,'' McNair said. ''I wouldn't suggest that to them. I value my health too much for that.''

Had you seen the looks of devastation and disappointment on so many faces in the Texans' locker room, so many players dragging their way from the training room to the showers, many hanging their heads, you would know better.

''If anybody questions how these guys are put together,'' Texans coach Dom Capers said, ''I think you've seen it the last three weeks.''
John P. Lopez
Houston Chronicle

''For a moment Sunday, the Texans actually believed something good had happened to them. Rookie Jerome Mathis had returned a kickoff 50 yards, and, with no time left, Kris Brown had an opportunity to tie the game with a 31-yard field-goal attempt.

Mathis and Jonathan Wells exchanged bearhugs at midfield, and everyone lined up on the sidelines to await Brown's kick as the Texans trailed the Tennessee Titans 13-10 at the Coliseum.

''We were pretty excited, but that was short-lived,'' Wells said.

Moments later, Brown botched the kick by sailing it far to the left — his second failed field-goal of the quarter.

His 37-yard attempt on the Texans' previous series was blocked by Tank Williams.

''I just didn't get it done,'' said Brown, whose five field goals against the Baltimore Ravens last week were the Texans' only points in a 16-15 loss.

''The first one was just a low-trajectory kick. I didn't get the ball up, and they did a good job of standing up and blocking it,'' he said."The second one, I flat out missed it. I don't know how you miss one as bad as that one was.''

Two misses too many.

Prior to the misses, Brown had been successful on 17 of 18 attempts inside the 39-yard line this season. He hadn't missed two field goals in a game since the 2003 opener when the Texans defeated the Miami Dolphins 21-20.

Brown's previous miss inside the 40 this season came on a 38-yarder in the fourth quarter of a 19-16 win over the Cleveland Browns. He redeemed himself by kicking a 40-yard game-winner one series after the Browns tied the game.

''I take great pride in being able to come through for this team,'' Brown said. ''I didn't pull my weight today. Those two weren't the only plays we could have made to win the game, but those two plays were very big.

''I'm disappointed, but I'm not going to dwell on it.''
Megan Manfull
Houston Chronicle