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NFL Playoffs 2016: 5 reasons Tennessee Titans still make it

By John Buhler

Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs in for a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Tennessee won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) runs in for a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Tennessee won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) and defensive end J.J. Watt (center) and defensive end Antonio Smith (94) stand on the sideline during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) and defensive end J.J. Watt (center) and defensive end Antonio Smith (94) stand on the sideline during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Brock Osweiler was benched in favor of Tom Savage

Despite improving to 8-6 on the year and leading the AFC South, the Texans are an absolute pigsty at the quarterback position. The $72 million man Brock Osweiler isn’t worth a 10th of his ludicrous contract for the Texans franchise.

Osweiler was benched by head coach Bill O’Brien in favor of the unproven backup quarterback Tom Savage in Sunday’s home win over the pitiful Jaguars. Savage led an impressive comeback to beat one of the four worst teams by a point at home to improve to 5-0 in AFC South play.

While the Cincinnati Bengals are out of the playoff hunt in the AFC, they aren’t the Jaguars and will play hard for head coach Marvin Lewis. Cincinnati has decent personnel and a culture of competitiveness that will at least give the Texans a game in Week 16.

The Bengals may not have any tape on Savage, but Lewis is more than capable of devising a solid game plan to stop him in his first career start. Tennessee plays Houston twice annually and has at least scouted Savage better than most teams in the AFC. If the Bengals find a way to thwart Savage in Week 16, why wouldn’t Titans defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau be able to expand on that and shut him down at home in Week 17?

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