HOUSTON (AP) When the Houston Texans selected C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, the consensus was that he'd turn Will Holden Jersey this team around eventually.Stroud had other plans, and the rookie quarterback's stellar play has the Texans a win away from reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2019 after a 26-3 victory over Tenne see on Sunday. The time is now, he said. Its not next year. Its not the year after that. Its right now. We have the opportunity to control our own destiny so Im excited to do that. Houston (9-7), Indianapolis and Jacksonville all won Sunday to leave the three teams with identical records in the AFC South and keep the Texans in contention for both the division title and a playoff spot.ADVERTISEMENT in his return from a concu sion Sunday and a victory next week at Indianapolis will secure a playoff berth a year after Houston won just three games. He raises everyones level of confidence because everyone knows the type of player that he is, coach DeMeco Ryans said. Hes a big-time playmaker and he continues to show it week after week. Were all excited to have C.J. back because hes a really great player.Stroud hadnt played since hitting the back of his Jarrad Davis Jersey head hard on the turf in a lo s to the Jets on Dec. 10. He picked up right where he left off before the injury, moving the offense effectively and throwing his 21st touchdown pa s of the season in the second quarter.It was a ble sing this week to get back, he said. I felt like I got back to my normal self pretty fast. The Texans had a 17-point lead at halftime with some help from a touchdown on defense after Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble by rookie quarterback Will Levis for a score in the second quarter.Levis injured his foot on the play and Ryan Tannehill took over. He threw for 168 yards but couldnt get the Titans in the end zone as Tenne see (5-11) fell to Houston for the second time in three weeks. We've just Jonah Jackson Jersey got to do better of doing our job all around, Tannehill said. If its blocking, then blocking. If its catching, catching. If its throwing, throwing. Whatever the case may be, we just got to do a better job of doing our job.Tenne see coach Mike Vrabel said he doesn't think the injury to Levis is too serious but that he'd know more Monday. The Texans pushed the lead to 23-3 on a field goal in the third quarter. The Titans had a chance to cut the lead after that, but they came up empty at the end of a 17-play drive when Tannehills pa s on fourth-and-3 from the 3 was incomplete. Houston made it 26-3 on a 51-yard field goal with about 5 minutes to go.The Titans had Houston stopped at its 11-yard line late in the first quarter, but Caleb Murphy was flagged for running into the kicker to give the Texans a first down.Houston capped a 13-play, 89-yard drive with a 12-yard reception by Brevin Jordan to make it 10-0 with about 10 minutes left in the second.On the next play, Levis lost the ball on a strip-sack by Jerry Hughes. Then Rankins, a 287-pound defensive tackle s to extend the lead to 17-0.It was the first NFL touchdown for Rankins, who returned a fumble for a score as a senior at Louisville in 2015. As a defensive lineman ... you prepare for them, but you just never really think theyre going to be there, he Trey Flowers Jersey said. Kaimi Fairbairn's 38-yard field goal made it 20-0 with about four minutes left in the first half. Tenne see got its only points on a 53-yard field goal by Nick Folk as time expired in the second quarter.Houston defensive end Will Anderson, the third overall pick in the draft, h in his return after mi sing two games with an ankle injury.Hes an impact player, and you see it instantly, Ryans said. We mi sed him. You see the production, you see the type of plays he can make for us.The Texans finished with six sacks after getting seven in the first meeting with the Titans.Weve got to do a better job of protecting whoever is back there throwing the football, Vrabel said. Former Texans star DeAndre Hopkins had seven receptions for 72 yards for the Titans. Derrick Henry had 12 carries for 42 yards after being limited to 9 yards on 16 carries by the Texans two weeks ago. INJURIESTitans OL Daniel Brunskill injured his ankle in the first half. WR Colton Dowell left the game in Doak Walker Jersey the second quarter with a knee injury. Houston LT Laremy Tunsil injured his groin in the second quarter. WR Noah Brown injured a hip in the second quarter. WR Robert Woods left in the fourth quarter with a hip injury.UP NEXTTitans: Wrap up their season next weekend with a visit from the Jaguars.Texans: Visit Indianapolis next weekend.___AP NFL: