Titans updated playoff scenarios after Week 16 loss to Saints
What is the Tennessee Titans’ updated playoff outlook after their loss to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16?
Despite losing to the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, the Tennessee Titans still control their own destiny in the AFC Wild Card hunt, and in fact currently sit in the coveted No. 6 seed going into Week 17.
Tennessee got what it needed out of the New York Jets, as Gang Green beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10. With both the Titans and Steelers sitting at 8-7 and sharing the same conference record, Tennessee owns the tiebreaker based on strength of victory.
That means that if the Titans can win in Week 17 on the road against the Houston Texans, they’ll be in the playoffs no matter what happens with the Steelers.
The Texans will be playing their starters in that game because they still have a shot to improve their seeding and jump into the No. 3 spot over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Should Tennessee lose, things get a bit trickier, but that won’t mean the Titans are eliminated. Of course, if Tennessee loses and Pittsburgh beats the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee would be eliminated and Pittsburgh would grab the final spot.
However, if the Titans and Steelers both lose, Tennessee would still get in based on strength of victory as long as the Indianapolis Colts lose on the road to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Based on three-way tiebreakers for the final spot, if Indy, Tennessee and Pittsburgh are all 8-8, the Colts would eliminate the Titans and the Steelers would eliminate the Colts. Confusing, I know, but that’s the way I understand it.
Basically, the Titans just need to take care of their own business. If not, they’ll have to depend on a Ravens team that is likely to rest its starters against the Steelers after locking up the No. 1 seed, and a Jaguars team that has mailed it in to beat the Colts.