Optimism: The Titans don’t have to win
There’s no doubt that you always want your favorite team to win every game they play, and Titans fans should obviously want that against the Saints in what is an incredibly tough matchup in Week 16.
But there’s something important to note here: Tennessee doesn’t have to win to keep its playoff hopes alive. While a loss would seal the deal in the division, the Titans would still be alive in the wild card.
If a loss occurs on Sunday, the Titans would have to win in Week 17 on the road against a Texans team that has nothing to play for and could sit starters, and would need the Steelers to lose either of their last two games.
So, if the Titans don’t pull out a victory in Week 16, fear not because there is still hope. This game certainly isn’t a do-or-die situation, although a win would certainly help the team’s playoff chances a bit more.