NASHVILLE – At least for a moment, Nissan Stadium was buzzing again.

The Titans had rallied to tie the game in the closing minutes, fans were waving rally towels, and there was hope a comeback win might be on the horizon.

But that moment was spoiled not long after, as the Texans kicked a field goal as time expired to beat the Titans 16-13.

The loss dropped the Titans to 1-9.

Trailing 13-6 late, the Titans rallied to tie it.

A 39-yard pass from Ward to tight end Chig Okonkwo gave the Titans a first-and-goal at the Houston seven-yard line in the closing minutes.

Then, Ward connected with receiver Van Jefferson for a four-yard touchdown to tie the game at 13-13 with 1:35 remaining.

It looked like the Titans would get the ball back, but the Texans converted a third-and-16 with a 17-yard completion from quarterback Davis Mills to receiver Nico Collins, and that eventually set up a 35-yard field goal by kicker Matthew Wright on the final play of the game.

For most of the game, the Titans had problems against Houston.

Not enough offense, and too many penalties, ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.

Quarterback Cam Ward completed 24-of-37 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown in the contest. But he lost the ball on a fumble, and the offense had trouble moving the ball all day.

The game started with some early fireworks.

After the Texans misfired on an early field goal, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was flagged for unnecessary roughness for making contact with the long snapper.

The penalty gave the Texans a first-and-goal at the Tennessee six-yard line.

The Titans rose up with a goal-line stand, and on a fourth-and-goal play from the one-yard, Titans linebacker Cody Barton sacked Mills, and the Titans took over.

The Titans then put together a 13-play, 50-yard drive that was capped off with a 56-yard field goal by kicker Joey Slye, which made it 3-0 Titans. The Titans got first down completions to receiver Chimere Dike, running back Tyjae Spears and tight end Chig Okonkwo on the drive.

It was a defensive battle for the rest of the half, and it was 3-0 at the half.

The Titans extended their lead to 6-0 on a 47-yard field goal by Sly, which capped an eight-play, 37-yard drive that included first down completions to receiver Mason Kinsey and tight end Gunnar Helm.

But the Texans then put together a long scoring drive of their own, and they took a 7-6 lead with 7:21 left in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown pass from Mills to Collins.

A 41-yard field goal by Wright made it 10-6 Texans with 1:32 left in the third quarter.

Disaster struck early in the fourth quarter, when Ward was sacked by Texans edge rusher Will Anderson, and he fumbled in the process. Anderson jumped on the loose ball, and the Texans took over at the Tennessee 34.

But the Titans defense kept it a game by holding the Texans to another field goal, this one from 43 yards out, to make it 13-6.

Then, came the exciting, then disappointing, conclusion.

The Titans return to action next Sunday at Nissan Stadium against the Seattle Seahawks.