The Titans kind of have a big game tomorrow. I'm actually pretty nervous. I haven't been nervous about a Titans game in awhile.
Maybe I shouldn't be nervous. The Titans playoff chances are extremely slim to borderline non-existent... But there's a chance. Maybe even a better chance than I dare give them credit for.
I'm getting older. Life has beaten me up enough to where, it's hard to actually be optimistic. Younger me would be way more pumped and way more hopeful. I'm a bit of a skeptical grump these days. Maybe too realistic. I don't know.
But the AFC South is still kinda, sorta, up for grabs and I mean, the Titans schedule the rest of this season is actually quite soft, at least in comparison to what's behind the Titans already. The Titans have FOUR divisional games left, and the season finale is against the current AFC South leader, the Houston Texans who the Titans just beat.
The Titans appear to be 3.5 games behind the Texans, and the Texans have not had their bye week yet. I mean, the math is actually not completely insanely terrible.
For this to actually work, obviously the Titans MUST and I mean must WIN OUT. Technically one loss to a non-divisional team wouldn't completely bury the Titans but it would be pretty devastating in my opinion.
The 3-8 Titans schedule the rest of the way:
-Commanders
-Jaguars
-Bengals
-Colts
-Jaguars
-Texans
Truly, not insanely awful for the Titans the rest of the way. Several of those teams are seriously underperforming recently too.
The Texans on the other hand are struggling a bit and their schedule only gets harder. A lot harder honestly.
The 7-5 Texans schedule looks like this:
-Jaguars
-Dolphins
-Chiefs
-Ravens
-Titans
Clearly, the Texans have the harder final stretch of the season. Hmmmmmm.
All in all, there are quite a lot of what ifs and maybes involved. Also, if the Titans did make the playoffs it's unlikely they would make much noise. Still, it would be a MASSIVE accomplishment to be proud of after a rollercoaster of a season. I would be insanely pumped and happy!
It's simply a nice surprise that the Titans aren't totally cooked yet. They're close to cooked, but not quite yet.
The Commanders have lost a few in a row. But for the most part, they have only lost to pretty good teams. They are going to want to win BADLY to keep their playoff hopes intact.
IF the Titans win tomorrow, this will be a BIG tone setter. Texans and Commanders wins back to back will prove a lot. I live fairly close to D.C. It's gonna be a cold, playoff type atmosphere for sure.
I can't speculate or type the Titans to the playoffs though. The boys are going to have to prove it and it's not going to be easy. Should be fun!!
