HOUSTON -- Despite an inconsistent performance from quarterback Brock Osweiler on Sunday, the Houston Texans beat the Tennessee Titans 27-20 to move to 3-1 with a two-game lead in the AFC South.

And although they will play the rest of the season without their best player, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, the Texans are still in control of the division.

Osweiler finished 25-of-37 for 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

For the first time this season, the Texans got off to the quick start that head coach Bill O’Brien, who recently took over playcalling duties from offensive coordinator George Godsey, had preached about during training camp. Osweiler led Houston down the field on its first drive, finding tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass. That was the Texans' second red zone touchdown of the season, the first since the first half of the season opener against Chicago.

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Houston scored on its first drive for just the second time in the past two seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

"It was a pretty good tempo," O'Brien said. "The key is to try to do a better job from this point forward of sustaining that throughout the game. The key to those drives is starting off on a good note; a 6-yard gain gets you into a pretty good tempo. I thought our players were really focused and got into a good rhythm and good tempo."

In a game in which Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins had just one catch for 4 yards, rookie receiver Will Fuller had another big game for the Texans. The rookie led the team with seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown and had a go-ahead 67-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter. Running back Lamar Miller was again heavily involved offensively but didn't find the end zone. He registered 108 total yards of offense.

"[Fuller's] a good player," O'Brien said. "He's a great kid, he studies hard. He wants to do well. He doesn't have a big head. He's just a good kid. He works very hard. He's been lead very well by Hop; Hop does a great job mentoring him. He had a good day for us today."

Osweiler now has six interceptions in five games, but O'Brien said he thinks he has "played pretty well" so far this season.

"Obviously we can all coach better and play better," O'Brien said. "Overall, with the exception of the turnovers, I thought the guy played a good football game today."

Despite the fast start on offense, in its first game without Watt since he was drafted in 2011, the Texans’ defense did not have a great showing. A game after giving up 27 points to the New England Patriots, the defense allowed 20 to the Titans. The unit struggled against the run, something O’Brien had said would be a major key against the Titans' two power running backs, DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry. Murray scored two touchdowns and finished the game with 95 rushing yards.

"[He's a] very good running back," inside linebacker Brian Cushing said. "Very fast, very elusive but can also run for power. A guy like that you just try to limit him as much as you can. You're not going to shut him down, but you have to limit the big plays and don't let him break as many tackles as he usually does."

Former No. 1 draft pick Jadeveon Clowney started in Watt’s place at left defensive end. And while the front seven got some pressure on Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, it had just one sack in the game.

"I had a bad series the last series, I had two offside penalties so I was like, ‘I got to make up for it this next series,’" Clowney said. "And I was just trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win the game."