Cam Ward Understands Importance of the Titans-Texans Rivalry

The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans have a rivalry, even if it isn't well known across the NFL. 

This all got started with the Houston Oilers. 

The Oilers were founded in 1960 and were a franchise for many years. Owner Bud Adams wanted to upgrade his team's stadium, and after a standoff with the city of Houston, he moved the franchise to Tennessee in 1997. 

It took a little while for Nashville to build a stadium. The team played its games at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis in 1997 and then used the Vanderbilt Commodores' stadium in 1998. 

Adelphia Coliseum was finally finished in 1999, and the team changed its name to the Tennessee Titans. After the feud with the city of Houston motivated Adams to move the team, the NFL made an interesting move. 

The NFL awarded Houston another franchise, bringing the Texans to the league in 2002. This raised questions about why the city had issues granting Adams a new stadium, but not the Texans. 

The Adams have not forgotten the disrespect that Houston showed them. Bud has since passed away, but his daughter, Amy Adams-Strunk, is keeping the hate alive. 

She stoked the rivalry by releasing the Oilers alternate jerseys in 2023. Texans fans have taken issue with the uniforms, and even franchise legend J.J. Watt has campaigned for the Oilers to be associated with the team's history. 

You can tell that the new Titans' uniforms were a nod to the Oilers' legacy. 

The Titans and Texans are going to butt heads; that's just how it'll be. Cam Ward spoke about the rivalry at a recent press conference. 

Ward and the team are treating it like any other game, but the quarterback knows that won't be the case by Sunday. Growing up in Texas, Ward knows how much the game means to both sides. 

"Especially growing up in Texas, I have an understanding of it," Ward said. "It's a big game. For both sides. For the organization, this is a must-win game just like every other week. But I think the best thing we can look forward to is to treat it like any other game, but, you know, in our minds it means something more than just another game." 

The Titans and Texans both come into this game at 0-4. Even then, the records don't usually matter. 

The Texans got the better of the Titans in both matchups last year. In the first meeting, the Texans shut out the Titans 26-0. Then, Tennessee held a brief 6-0 lead in the second game until Houston woke up in the second half. 

The Titans never took the lead again. They were down 13-6 and tied the game with a touchdown pass to Van Jefferson. 

The Texans had 1:35 left to get into position for a game-winning field goal, and they did. Matthew Wright hit a 35-yard game-winning field goal, breaking the hearts of Titans fans in attendance at Nissan Stadium. 

Fans who are going to the game on Sunday should expect nothing less. Kickoff is at noon CT on CBS.