The Tennessee Titans Need An Assist to Make Playoffs

The Tennessee Titans had one job and blew it. Now, they need some help from the Jets or Ravens, and possibly the Bucs, to sneak into the playoffs.

What’s a tradition unlike any other? The Tennessee Titans losing a meaningful game in December to make things way more difficult than it needed to be. All the Titans had to do was defeat the Texans to continue controlling their fate in the AFC South towards the postseason.

The Titans instead made a multitude of mistakes and costed themselves that golden opportunity. Some argue that the Titans lost because of kicker issues. Others argue the Titans lost because of Firkser’s goal-line fumble.

What’s the common denominator in both theories? The Titans lost. However, I am not writing this article to complain about the loss. I am writing it to share with you just what needs to happen for the Titans to avoid missing the postseason again.

The Titans received a big assist from the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night as they took down the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team, the Titans, are currently trying to overcome for the sixth seed. Both the Titans and Steelers sit at 8-6.

Jim Wyatt put it simply, but I will go into more detail.

Scenario one is way more likely. Next week’s game versus the Saints will likely be meaningless for Tennessee. The Texans battle the Buccaneers on Saturday, and although the Buccaneers are riding hot right now, they have lost both their starting wide receivers due to injury.

If the Buccaneers can pull the upset, then the Titans-Saints game all of a sudden has major implications because if the Titans win, they’ll be right back in the same scenario they were in week 15: Winner takes the division.

But let’s go with the likely scenario. Buccaneers lose to the Texans. In this case, the Titans are fortunate to have the Saints as opponents, because this game does nothing to their conference record.

The Steelers, on the other hand, face the New York Jets. If they lose to the Jets, week 17 would be a win-and-in game for Tennessee. Do I expect them to lose to the Jets? Not at all.

What will likely happen is the Tennessee Titans will need to win in Houston, and look for an assist by the Baltimore Ravens, who could be resting their starters, to beat the Steelers. If that happens, the Titans own the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh and would get into the playoffs.

The Steelers losing to Baltimore is a very strong possibility. What I am more concerned about is the Titans going into Houston and defeating the Texans. The Titans did not need to make it this difficult. Yet here we are, Titans fans.