By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — As the Titans prepare for their final regular season home game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, they can decide most of the questions regarding how they fare this year themselves. If they win out against the Dolphins and then on the road against Houston, they will win the AFC South and host a first-round game. Even if they only win one of two and the Colts take both their final contests, the Titans own the tie-breaker and would take the title.
The Titans even have a remote chance to be the top seed in the AFC. Should the Chiefs and Titans finish tied, the Titans also have the tiebreaker in that situation. If they capture the number one position among AFC teams, the Titans would get a first-round bye. The Chiefs, who defeated Pittsburgh 30-10 Sunday, have two road games remaining against Cincinnati and Denver. They are a game ahead of the Titans at 11-4 and have won eight straight since their 27-3 loss at Nissan Stadium Oct. 24th.
The Colts defeated Arizona 22-16 last week and remain a game behind the Titans in the AFC South at 9-6. Their final two games are against Las Vegas at home and Jacksonville on the road. The Colts have won their last three games. But the Titans, in posting a 20-17 home victory over San Francisco, moved into the number two spot in the AFC. The Patriots lost to the Bills 33-21 at home and dropped to 9-6 with games left against Jacksonville at home and Miami on the road.
The Titans’ defense is playing at its best level lately, with the insertions of Zach Cunningham and Bud Dupree among the starting linebacker corps. The return of A.J. Brown from injury also re-energized the offense. Still, the Titans know their final two games won’t be easy ones. Miami had won six straight going into Monday night’s game against New Orleans. Houston rolled over the Los Angeles Chargers 41-29 Sunday and they’ve already beaten the Titans 22-13 in Nashville November 21. Two victories solidify the Titans’ place in the AFC playoff standings. But they know neither game will be an easy one.
