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Titans playoff scenarios: Which teams could they face in Wild-Card round?

By Michael Moraitis

NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 17: Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans talks with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots before a week two preseason game at Nissan Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 17: Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans talks with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots before a week two preseason game at Nissan Stadium on August 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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IF the Tennessee Titans do in indeed make the playoffs in 2019, which teams could they potentially face in the Wild-Card round?

The Tennessee Titans are in a prime position to make the playoffs in 2019 after a 2-4 start, so which teams could be their potential opponents in the Wild-Card round?

If Tennessee can defeat the Houston Texans in Week 17, head coach Mike Vrabel’s squad will be playoff-bound. Even if the Titans lose, they can still make the playoffs with losses by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.

Should any one of those two scenarios play out, there are three potential opponents Tennessee could play in the first round of the playoffs with the No. 6 seed being the best the Titans can do.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

We list the Chiefs first because this is the most likely opponent for the Titans in the Wild-Card round should they make the playoffs.

Kansas City sits in the No. 3 seed at the moment and can secure that spot with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers or a Texans loss to the Titans on Sunday.

While the Titans beat the Chiefs at Nissan Stadium earlier in the season, getting a second win in 2019 — this time on the road — against one of the AFC’s elite offenses will be a difficult task, especially with the way an injury-riddled Titans secondary has played of late.

A matchup with the Chiefs is indeed the most likely scenario, but it’s also the least desirable.

2. Houston Texans

If Tennessee’s Wild-Card round opponent ends up being Houston, it would be the third meeting between the two teams in 2019, but that would also mean the Titans lost in Week 17 and would need help getting into the playoffs.

The Texans need to beat the Titans on Sunday combined with a Chiefs loss to grab the No. 3 seed. Being that the Tennessee-Houston game (3:25 p.m. CST) is after the Chiefs-Chargers contest (noon CST), the Texans will know their situation prior to kickoff.

Of the three potential opponents the Titans could see should they make the playoffs, Houston is arguably the most vulnerable based on their inconsistent play throughout the course of the season, but the road to this scenario isn’t one Tennessee wants to be on.

3. New England Patriots

Despite the fact that the Patriots are probably the second-most vulnerable team behind the Texans on this list, this outcome would be the most desirable of the three because it doesn’t involve Tennessee sweating it out to get to the playoffs.

If the Pats lose to the Miami Dolphins and the Chiefs beat the Chargers, Kansas City would take over the No. 2 spot in the AFC, pushing the Pats down to No. 3. Sadly, I don’t see Miami beating New England in this spot, or any spot, for that matter.

Sure, the Pats do sport one of the best defenses in the NFL this season, but their offense scares nobody. Tennessee would be able to keep Tom Brady and Co. in check, and it’s certainly conceivable that the Titans’ offense could score enough to win a low-scoring affair.

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