NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans have placed themselves in position to get the top spot in the AFC, a first-round bye, and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They clinched their second straight AFC South title Sunday with an impressive 34-3 blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins. That victory eliminated the Dolphins from any playoff possibilities and ended their seven-game winning streak.
While the Titans certainly would love to get Derrick Henry back for the playoffs, D’Onta Foreman continues to provide excellent contributions on the ground. He had 132 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown. Ryan Tannehill and the offense had its productive day in weeks. Tannehill completed 13 of 18 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. The Cinncinnati Bengals’ win over Kansas City put Tennessee back atop the AFC with only a road game against the Houston Texans remaining. The Titans have the tiebreaker over the Chiefs, so if both teams finished tied, the Titans get the number one seed.
The Titans’ defense continued its stellar play. The Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa entered the game leading the NFL in completion percentage, but he had a miserable game, completing only 18 of 38 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Tagovailoa struggled with holding onto the ball in the rainy weather, fumbling three times and losing one. The defense has now gotten back some key players and are playing their best ball of the season, having risen to the number two position in the league against the run. They held the Dolphins to only three conversions out of 12 third down tries, forced two turnovers and didn’t give up a touchdown.
Offensively, not only are they getting great production from Foreman, who averaged 5.1 yards per carry, but Dontrell Hilliard averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and Jeremy McNichols averaged 7.0 yards per carry on two attempts.
But the Titans have one last game they need to win, and they’ve already lost at home to Houston. The Texans would love nothing more than to ruin the Titans’ chances for the top spot and a first-round bye, so Sunday’s game will be a tough one.
