Tennessee Titans: Schedule Will Keep Team Out of 2013-14 Playoffs

September 16, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans receiver Kendall Wright (13) during the third quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

It’s playoffs or bust for the current Titans coaching staff. If Mike Munchak can’t coach his team to the postseason this upcoming season, he could be looking for a job in 2014. Munchak and general manager Ruston Webster did an outstanding job adding a plethora of talent in hopes to reach the playoffs for the first time since January 2009, but will it be enough?

Let’s take a look at why the Titans will miss the postseason once again.

I think the Titans’ first 3 games could be a crystal ball to how they will do this season. Once again, the Titans have a rough start to the season and could likely be 0-3 heading into Week 4. That would be devastating to their playoff chances. While 0-3 isn’t impossible to recover from, when you look at the Titans schedule, it’s easy to see how difficult it would be for them overcome.

at Pittsburgh Steelers
They start the season in Pittsburgh against a Steelers team that lost some talent to free agency, but winning in Pittsburgh is anything but easy. If they win this game, then it could completely change the outcome of their season.

at Houston Texans
Week 2 takes the Titans to Houston to face a Texans team that has solidified its position atop the AFC South. The Titans lost both games to the Texans last year, and while any team can win on any given Sunday… there is no way Tennessee wins this game.

vs. San Diego Chargers
The Titans get their home-opener against the Chargers. If the Titans were going to win one of their first 3 games, it would be this one. Unfortunately, the Titans haven’t beaten the Chargers since Warren Moon was quarterback. With this being the first home game, it’s conceivable that Tennessee could use the home-field advantage to squeak out a win here. I don’t see that happening. The Chargers have had the Titans number since 1993 and they get the win here.

All of this leaves the Titans with a 0-3 record. Combine starting off 0-3 with playing back-to-back games against Seattle and San Francisco before the bye week? You can see why this could put a damper on the Titans season. Having 5 losses before the 2^nd half of the season would be an insurmountable deficit for the Titans to overcome and make the playoffs.