The Titans have taken care of business over the last four weeks and secured a win-and-in scenario. If they beat the Colts on Sunday night, they will secure their second consecutive playoff birth. However, there are still some scenarios where the Titans can improve their seeding in the AFC playoffs as high as the second seed. Fans of the Titans will have plenty of games to pay attention to ahead of Tennessee’s primetime matchup.
Jaguars at Texans
The key ingredient in any of the scenarios that improves the Titans’ seeding above the sixth seed is a Jaguars win. Tennessee and Indianapolis will be playing for the AFC South title if Jacksonville is able to knock off Houston. If the Texans win, the winner of the Sunday night game will land at the sixth seed. It may be unlikely that Jacksonville beats Houston, but the Jaguars still have a great defense. The Jaguars have been able to shock some teams in the last month including the Colts and the Dolphins last week. Titans’ fans should be rooting for Blake Bortles to have his best game of his career in what could be his final game as a Jaguar. If Jacksonville wins, the possibilities for Tennessee expand greatly and there will be a primetime matchup for the AFC South crown.
Jets at Patriots
The next two games could help the Titans to secure a first-round bye. It seems crazy that going into Week 17 that Tennessee could be a top two seed in the AFC or miss the playoffs altogether. However, it is possible. The Titans would need the Jets to pull of the upset in Foxborough to keep that dream alive. This isn’t likely, but the Jets played the Pats close a few weeks ago at Metlife Stadium. New York has looked better lately and has given a few teams some scares over the last few weeks including Houston. The Jets winning is probably the least likely result that would help the Titans, but it isn’t out of the question.
Browns at Ravens
Baker Mayfield needs to have the game of his life on Sunday for the Titans to get a first-round bye. The Browns won the first time they faced the Ravens, but this Baltimore defense seems to be on another level right now. The Ravens can clinch the AFC North with a win, so they will be playing hard to secure their postseason birth. However, the Browns will almost certainly love to play spoiler and have won four straight. A Cleveland win would be the last piece of the puzzle for the Titans to play for the second seed in the playoffs. It won’t be easy, but the scenario is much more possible than it seems.
If it all goes right…
If the Jaguars, Jets, and Browns all emerge victorious ahead of the Titans’ primetime game on Sunday, Tennessee will be playing for a first-round bye. However, with a loss, the Titans would still miss the playoffs. Taking care of business at home Sunday night is the most important item for Tennessee.
If it all goes wrong…
If the Texans, Patriots, and Ravens all are able to win at home on Sunday, the Titans will only be able to secure the sixth seed with a win. However, Tennessee still gets in with a win, so fans shouldn’t put too much weight on games not being held in Nashville on Sunday.
