Where do Titans stand in AFC South and playoff picture after Week 14
After their win over the Oakland Raiders in Week 14, where do the Tennessee Titans stand in the AFC South and conference playoff picture?
The Tennessee Titans rolled to another victory in Week 14 over the Oakland Raiders and have now set themselves up with a HUGE Week 15 matchup against the Houston Texans.
With their win and the Texans’ blowout loss to the Denver Broncos, the Titans are now tied atop the division with an 8-5 record and will meet the Texans at Nissan Stadium in Week 15 to determine who will be in first place.
For the time being, the Texans own the tiebreaker thanks to a better divisional record, so they’re technically in first place, but that could all change on Sunday.
Here’s a full look at the standings.
AFC South
1. Houston Texans (8-5)
2. Tennessee Titans (8-5)
3. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
The Jaguars have basically stopped showing up to games after getting blown out by the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 14. Meanwhile, the Colts dropped a tough one to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which pretty much dashes their playoff hopes for 2019.
The Titans continue to control their own destiny and thanks to the win over the Raiders, Tennessee can actually afford a loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 if they can go ahead and take care of business against the Texans in both remaining contests.
The division isn’t the only thing in reach for Tennessee, though. Despite not moving up in the AFC playoff picture, the Titans kept pace with the team in the final wild card spot, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Baltimore Ravens (11-2)
2. New England Patriots (10-3)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
5. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5)
7. Tennessee Titans (8-5)
The Steelers keep finding ways to win games after topping the Arizona Cardinals for their third straight, and seventh in their last eight games. Pittsburgh will host the Bills in Week 15 and the winner will be in the first wild card spot.
Of course, if Tennessee wins against the Texans, Tennessee will be in first place alone, but if we’re picking one team we want to lose between the Steelers and Bills in Week 15 to help the Titans’ wild card hopes should it come to that, it’s the Steelers.
The Titans lost to the Bills earlier in the season, so any tie in record between these two teams in the wild card race would benefit the Bills, as head-to-head is the first tiebreaker when teams are tied in the wild card.
Any tie between the Pittsburgh and Tennessee would come down to a conference record tiebreaker, and the Steelers have the temporary edge there at 6-3 to the Titans’ 6-4. The Steelers have three AFC matchups left and the Titans have two.
Bottom line: the best route to the playoffs for Tennessee right now remains in their own division.