Osweiler, O'Brien downplay heated halftime exchange vs. Titans

At halftime of the Houston Texans' Week 17 game against the Tennessee Titans, quarterback Brock Osweiler and head coach Bill O'Brien could be heard shouting at each other in O'Brien's office.

Osweiler took over for an injured Tom Savage in the first half of the game, but Savage returned to take the final snap before halftime.

It appeared Savage would return to play the second half, but he was re-evaluated at halftime and ruled out with a concussion.

It's unclear what Osweiler and O'Brien were shouting about, but both men downplayed the incident Wednesday.

"Look, I think that it's an intense game," O'Brien said, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "It's football. You've got competitive guys, passionate guys about the team, about winning, especially quarterback-head coach. If there was a what you would term a 'heated exchange,' that happens all the time. I'm not sure what you're referring to. Those things happen."

Osweiler told reporters what happens between him and his coach stays between the two of them, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Osweiler and O'Brien are rumored to have an uneasy relationship. The Texans gave Osweiler a $72-million contract in free agency without O'Brien having ever met him, and the coach benched Osweiler in Week 15 after months of shaky play.

It seems O'Brien would have preferred to start Savage in the playoffs, but that isn't an option with Savage in the NFL's concussion protocol. O'Brien and Osweiler have no choice but to move forward with each other.

Complicating matters, O'Brien's job is rumored to be in danger if the Texans go one-and-done in the postseason.