So How Do The Titans Make The Playoffs?
By Larry Stone December 17, 2001

Our Titans Radio email has been busy this Monday from fans asking 'how can the Titans make the playoffs?'

Certainly, one game does not a season make and, remember, the Titans have had four other chances to make it to .500 this season and failed. Still, the Titans gutty performance Sunday against one of the better teams in the NFC got people talking.

So, here's the scoop.

Oakland has clinched the AFC West while Pittsburgh has clinched the AFC Central. Those teams will now compete for homefield advantage with the Steelers ahead of the Raiders by one game.

The AFC East champion will come from 9-4 Miami, 9-5 New England and 8-5 New York. That champion needs help from other teams to avoid playing on wild card weekend.

The Titans stand 10th in the AFC with six playoff seats up for grabs. The ninth team, Cleveland, would be eliminated by a Tennessee victory against the Browns in two weeks.

For Tennessee to make the playoffs, the team must win out AND three of the following four events must happen:

1. Eighth place Denver must lose one game. The Broncos stand 7-7 with a bye this week followed by a home game with the Raiders and a game at Indianapolis. One more loss would give the Broncos eight.

2. Seventh place Seattle has to lose two games. The Seahawks enter this weekend 7-6 with a game at the Giants, followed by a trip to San Diego and a home finale with Kansas City.

3. Sixth place Baltimore has to lose all three of its remaining games. After Sunday's loss to the Steelers, Baltimore stands 8-5. The Ravens have home games with the Bengals and Vikings plus a game at Tampa sandwiched in between.

4. Fifth place New York has to loss all three of its remaining games. The Jets also stand 8-5 with games at Indy and Oakland plus a home game with the Bills in between.

As Jeff Fisher said Monday, playoff chances remain remote.