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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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Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) rolls out of the pocket as Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) applies pressure during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) rolls out of the pocket as Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) applies pressure during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. The Texans won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Week 17 vs. Houston could be for it all in Nashville

Assuming the Colts fall in Oakland, the 2016 AFC South division title will be decided on the Nissan Stadium gridiron on New Year’s Day in Nashville in Week 17. The winner of the Texans at the Titans will end up being the No. 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs by virtue of winning the AFC South.

Houston has been atop the AFC South for most of the season due to the Texans’ success in AFC South play. The Texans are 5-0 in the AFC South, but 3-6 outside of divisional play and 2-5 away from NRG Stadium. If Houston was going to drop an AFC South game in 2016, Week 17 in Nashville was probably going to be that game.

Tennessee has beaten maybe five serious NFL playoff contenders, including wins over Green Bay, Denver, and Kansas City since the middle of November. The Titans may have lost to the Texans in Houston in Week 4 by a touchdown, but Tennessee is a completely different football team since their last head-to-head meeting.

Since falling in Houston on October 2nd, the Titans have gone 7-3. All three of their losses since the Week 4 defeat in Houston have been by eight points or less. Interestingly, the Titans’ worst loss of the season came at home in Week 1 to the Shaun Hill led Vikings by just nine points.

Take records aside, just look at these two AFC South rivals with what we’ve seen in the last two and a half months. Who looks like they belong in the AFC Playoffs: Houston or Tennessee? The playoff push is all about who is playing the best ball when it matters the most.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best QB of All-Time

Houston just benched their starting quarterback against Jacksonville. Tennessee can beat the defending Super Bowl Champions when franchise quarterback Marcus Mariota goes 6 for 20 passing. That’s all you really need to know about why the Titans will win the AFC South at potentially 10-6.

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