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For the fourth season in a row, the Tennessee Titans need a Week 17 win to secure their playoff ticket – and just like last season, the Titans could secure their spot against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. .
Except this time around, a win for Tennessee would mean an AFC South title, which would be the first for this franchise since 2008. In order to nail that, the Titans would have to sweep the Texans for the first time since 2007.
However, the Titans can miss the playoffs with a loss. The good news is that they still have several paths to advance to the playoffs or win the division if the Texans pull off an upset or a tie.
It’s also possible that Tennessee could clinch a playoff berth even before taking the field on Sunday.
Let’s take a look at what games matter to the Titans’ playoff prospects and what result Tennessee needs in those games to qualify for the playoffs or even win the AFC South without a win in Week 17.
Baltimore Ravens to Cincinnati Bengals (noon CT)
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens are just one conference team fighting for their playoff life, but luckily for Lamar Jackson and Co., they have multiple paths to get there and face a 4-10-1 team. of the Cincinnati Bengals who have nothing to play. .
If the Ravens win, they’re in the playoffs. If they lose, that would secure the Titans’ place in the playoffs and could lead the Ravens not to make the playoffs based on what other AFC teams are doing.
Desired result: Ravens lose to Bengals
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (noon CT)
ALLEN EYESTONE / PALM BEACH POST
The Miami Dolphins could take a break from this game, as the Buffalo Bills have already clinched a playoff berth and may rest their starters.
Granted, the Bills have yet to lock in the No.2 seed, but they can do so even with a loss if the Pittsburgh Steelers, who rest their starters, lose to the Cleveland Browns.
If Miami wins, it will be tied to the playoffs. If the Dolphins lose, the Titans will win a playoff berth no matter what in their game and Miami would risk missing the playoffs.
Desired result: dolphins lose to bills
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (noon CT)
Normally you think the Browns are a lock in beating the Steelers with head coach Mike Tomlin’s team resting their starters, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but these are the Browns we’re talking about and the history has shown us that nothing is ever safe in Cleveland. .
That said, a loss for the Browns could still pave the way for the Titans to make the playoffs without winning, as Tennessee could match Houston and advance combined with a loss to Cleveland. Of course, this path will only matter if Tennessee binds and Indianapolis wins.
Desired result: Browns lose to Steelers
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (3:25 p.m. CST)
(AP Photo / Darron Cummings)
Nothing from the Indianapolis Colts will matter to the AFC South if the Titans can simply win on Sunday. However, if the Titans lose and the Colts beat or equal the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Colts will win the division.
The Colts have a steep hill to climb in Week 17. Indianapolis needs to win or draw and needs a Titans, Ravens, Browns or Dolphins to lose just to land a playoff spot. A loss for the Colts will bar them entirely from the playoffs.
Result of desire: Colts lose to Jaguars
Scenarios involving links
(AP Photo / Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Ties are rare, but there are scenarios in which Tennessee can still make the playoffs with one against the Texans. Here they are:
To earn a playoff spot with a tie:
1. CLE loss and TEN equality OR
2. MIA tie and TEN tie OR
3. BAL tie and TEN tie
To win the AFC Sud with a tie:
1. TEN tie and IND tie
How the Titans can miss the playoffs
(AP Photo / Brett Carlsen)
For the worst-case scenario to unfold, which is that the Titans would completely miss the playoffs, they would need the following series of events:
1. The Dolphins Beat the Bills and
2. The Ravens beat the Bengals and
3. The Colts beat the Jaguars and
4. Texans beat Titans
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