The NFL season may have extended by a game this year but still, here we are in the thick of December football. For many teams, the playoffs pretty much start now.
The Tennessee Titans are 9-4 and don't play until Sunday but there has been plenty of action surrounding them indirectly. Last night the Chiefs defeated the Chargers in one of the best games I've seen in awhile. Here's how that result impacted the playoff picture:
Obviously the Chiefs hold the #1 spot for now since they have played one more game than everyone else in the conference other than the Chargers. If the Titans and the Patriots lose of course then the Chiefs would remain there.
We are at the point of the NFL season where the NFL starts having games on random days other than Sunday, Monday and Thursday. This week there is a game being held on Saturday, tomorrow. There would have been two games tomorrow but the Browns got a bad case of Corona so their game against the Raiders is being rescheduled to Monday.
Anyway, the one game that is being played tomorrow evening is Patriots at Colts. Another matchup, just like KC vs LAC, between teams currently rubbing shoulders with the Titans in the AFC playoff race. Another game that is prior to the Titans game Sunday and will just add to the suspense of this playoff race.
This game is massive in several ways for the Titans. Really, nothing that happens in this game will truly worsen the Titans situation or even improve it too much. But this game is important to see where the Titans stand and just what situation they'll be in going forward into Sunday.
Bottom line for the Titans is, they need to win on Sunday. That is really the best way for the Titans to gain something positive from this IND-NE result.
The Titans and Patriots are neck and neck in the AFC Playoff seedings, while Colts are still breathing down the necks of the Titans in the AFC South a bit.
The Titans defeated the Colts twice this season, but lost to the Patriots.
You can see from the picture I shared above what the AFC Playoff Picture looks like.
Here's what the AFC South currently looks like:
The Titans do pretty much have a three game lead over the Colts thanks to the Titans going 2-0 against them. But still, the Colts are being annoying and hanging around just enough.
This is just off the top of my head but...
If the Colts win:
If the Colts win it would apply a bit more pressure on the Titans to beat the Steelers on Sunday. A Colts victory would move them to just 2.5 games behind the Titans while awaiting the result of Titans-Steelers. If the Titans were to lose to the Steelers then the Colts would really be sniffing the AFC South crown a bit.
BUT
The Patriots losing would also grant the Titans an opportunity at the #1 AFC Seed with a win at Pittsburgh. So the Colts being victorious would apply pressure, yes, but also grant the Titans a huge opportunity.
If the Patriots win:
If the Patriots win it would mean the Titans would be practically exactly where they are right now in terms of AFC Playoff seeding. They would need to win to keep pace with the Patriots. A one game W-L lead on the Titans is basically a two game lead thanks to the Titans loss to the Patriots.
BUT
The Colts losing would have some solid benefits. Mathematically the magic number for the Titans to win the AFC South is 2. The Titans win two games, or the Colts lose two games, the Titans win the AFC South. The Titans win one and the Colts lose one, the Titans win the AFC South.
So if the Colts lose tomorrow, the Titans can clinch the AFC South with a win at the Steelers Sunday. If the Colts win, the Titans can overtake the Patriots as the #1 Seed with a win at PIT, but the Colts would still technically be in contention for the AFC South Title.
This game is nuts for the Titans!!!! Sheesh!
The Colts clearly need to win every single game they can and the Patriots are trying to get the #1 Seed that gets you a crucial bye week and home field advantage.
Breaking down that game, would be tough. I guess the Pats are the favorites, BUT it's in Indianapolis, and like I said, the Colts are stupid hungry trying to get in the playoffs. I have no idea, and nor do I care, what would happen if the Colts lost. Bad things clearly.
It is going to be a dog fight in Indiana tomorrow night. I'll have my popcorn ready!!!
What do you think of this playoff race? How do you think the Titans stand or should be feeling about it?
TITANS JUST NEED TO GET DUBS #TITANUP BABY!
