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Titans updated playoff scenarios after Texans clinch AFC South

By Michael Moraitis

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans shakes hands with Logan Ryan #26 prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans shakes hands with Logan Ryan #26 prior to a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Nissan Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Here’s a look at the Tennessee Titans’ updated playoff scenarios after the Houston Texans clinched the AFC South on Saturday.

With the Houston Texans clinching the AFC South on Saturday, the Tennessee Titans have just one avenue left to make the playoffs, which is through the wild card.

Houston topped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Saturday, which seals the deal in the AFC South. While the Texans have wrapped up the division, they will have something to play for in Week 17 with an opportunity to move up to the No. 3 seed still a possibility.

AFC Wild Card scenario

So, the Titans are now looking at wild card or bust for a spot in the 2019 playoffs.

Here’s how they can beat out the Pittsburgh Steelers and get it done, per Emily Proud of WKRN, who was nice enough to make a graphic to simplify it as best as possible.

https://twitter.com/emily_proud/status/1208507384060108800

-Tennessee wins out, Steelers lose one of their final two games.

-Tennessee beats Saints, lose to Texans, Steelers lose out.

-Tennessee loses to Saints, beats Texans, Steelers lose one of their final two games.

-Tennessee loses out, Steelers lose out, Colts lose one game.

So there you have it, and if your head hurts trying to figure out all of these tiebreakers, I don’t blame you because mine does too.

If the Titans finish with the same conference record as the Steelers, Tennessee gets in based on strength of victory. The only scenario in which that wouldn’t happen would be if both Tennessee and Pittsburgh lose out, AND the Indianapolis wins out.

A three way tie at 8-8 would give the advantage to the Colts over the Titans, and then the Steelers would get in with an advantage over the Colts. However, the Titans would still get in if both they and the Steelers are 8-8 and the Colts lose one more game.

Even if the Titans lose in Week 16 to the Saints, they are still very much in it. We wrote a fan rooting guide for Week 16 to show you which teams to root for to help the Titans’ chances, so check that out here.

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