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Will The Tennessee Titans Play In Super Bowl 52?

By Zach Ragan

Jan 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Cassel (16) prepares to hand the ball off against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Cassel (16) prepares to hand the ball off against the Houston Texans in the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Super Bowl 51 is on Sunday, but fans of the Tennessee Titans are already looking forward to the 2017 season.

The Tennessee Titans’ 9-7 record, and strong finish to the season in 2016, has fans looking forward to the 2017 season in a big way.

Tennessee improved their win total in 2016 by six games. That’s a pretty impressive turnaround.

With young players like Marcus Mariota, Derrick Henry, Jack Conklin, and Tajae Sharpe, the sky is truly the limit for the Titans in 2017

And that’s not to mention that Tennessee has the fifth overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.

With that pick, the Titans should be able to pick up a legitimate playmaker at wide receiver for Marcus Mariota, or perhaps a defensive back to upgrade the weakened secondary.

There’s also the possibility that the team could sign a veteran safety like Eric Berry.

All of that means that Tennessee should be in a prime position to win the AFC South next season, and make some noise in the playoffs.

Obviously the Patriots, regardless of what happens on Sunday in the Super Bowl against the Falcons, will be the favorites in the AFC again next season.

But that doesn’t mean the Titans can’t carve their own path to the Super Bowl.

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There’s already a precedent for a non-playoff team to end up in the Super Bowl the next season.

Take the Atlanta Falcons for example. They went 8-8 in 2015 and they weren’t considered the favorites to win the AFC South prior to the season.

Atlanta, however, went 11-5 this past season, won the NFC South and will be playing for the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday.

The year before, the Carolina Panthers entered the Super Bowl with a 15-1 record, a year after winning the NFC South with a record of 7-8-1.

It’s entirely feasible that the Titans could have a 2017 season like the Panthers’ 2015 season or the Falcons’ 2016 season.

This team is only going to get better in the off-season. Mike Mularkey will be entering his third season with the team, and he’s proved so far that he’s the right man for the job (he certainly has a fan in Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan).

If the Titans can improve their win total by two or three games, they could even be looking at a first round bye.

I know that’s looking ahead a bit, and maybe it’s optimistic, but I really like the Titans’ chances in 2017 to crash the Patriots’ AFC party.

Ultimately, there’s no way to know whether or not the Titans will be playing next February.

Next: Tennessee Smokies Troll Lane Kiffin

But I feel confident in saying that they’re at least a contender to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 52.

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