NFL Playoff Bracket 2018: Scenarios and Predictions for Postseason Picture

The Tennessee Titans broke a three-game losing streak and won their season finale at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars to earn a spot in the AFC playoffs.

But have the Titans righted themselves, and can they beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium? They certainly have the weapons and the game plan. 

If the Titans are going to register the upset, they need Marcus Mariota to have a big game, but the quarterback is not coming off a good regular season. Mariota completed 281 of 453 passes for 3,232 yards with 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

However, Mariota has excellent quickness and can take off out of the pocket, and the Chiefs defense appears to be quite vulnerable as Kansas City ranked 28th in yards allowed. While the Chiefs have plenty of speed on offense with wide receiver Tyreek Hill and running back Kareem Hunt, that is not the case on defense.

In addition to Mariota, Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray should have an opportunity to run the ball effectively, while tight end Delanie Walker and wideout Rishard Matthews are solid receiving targets.

No matter which team wins this game, the likely opponent would be the New England Patriots in the divisional round. That's because it's difficult to see the Buffalo Bills coming up with a road upset over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Bills may not have running back LeSean McCoy (ankle) in this game, and even if he can play, it seems unlikely he will be in top shape. McCoy ran for 1,138 yards and six touchdowns, and he added 59 receptions for 448 yards.

The Bills don't have game-changing wide receivers, and the coaching staff clearly has limited faith in quarterback Tyrod Taylor, so it's clear that the Bills don't have many offensive avenues open to them against the Jaguars.

Jacksonville ranks second in fewest yards allowed, and its defense features Calais Campbell (14.5 sacks) and Yannick Ngakoue (12.0 sacks), and those two are capable of dominating the game. 

James Kenney/Associated Press

The third-seeded Los Angeles Rams have had a wonderful year. Jared Goff is one of the most improved quarterbacks in the league, and running back Todd Gurley is a legitimate MVP candidate after rushing for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns and catching 64 passes for 788 yards and six touchdowns.

Cooper Kupp is a huge factor at the wide receiver position after catching 62 passes for 869 yards with five touchdowns as a rookie, and many of his catches were acrobatic and game-changing. Wideouts Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins are also key factors for the Rams. The Atlanta Falcons are going to have a challenge on their hands in trying to contain all aspects of the Los Angeles offense.

The Falcons have plenty of talent at the skill positions with quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Devonta Freeman and wideout Julio Jones, but the Falcons have not been as sharp as they were last year and have not played at the same level as the Rams.

The Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have the potential to put on the best show of the four wild-card teams, but the heat will be on Cam Newton to match or exceed Drew Brees.

Newton is a brilliant athlete who is capable of making big running plays, and he can make difficult throws look easy. He is also capable of making easy throws look difficult, and it's hard to know which Newton will show up.

Brees brings a high level of efficiency and consistency, and the Saints have a remarkable complementary running game with Mark Ingram (1,124 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, 12 TDs) and Alvin Kamara (728 rushing yards, 6.1 ypc, 8 TDs; 81 receptions for 826 yards and five TDs).

The Saints also have a much-improved defense, led by defensive end Cameron Jordan and his 13 sacks, but the Panthers have better defensive personnel. Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, Kawann Short and Julius Peppers are big playmakers who are capable of slowing down the Saints.

Predictions

Look for the Titans to come up with the upset of the Chiefs as Mariota emerges from his season-long mediocrity to have an excellent game. The Kansas City defense will be a step behind from start to finish.

The Jaguars should have an easy time of it against the Bills unless McCoy can overcome his sprained ankle and play at a superior level. The Bills don't have a credible offensive threat when McCoy is not at his best, and the Jags should win this game.

The Rams face a major threat from the Falcons, but they are simply better at this point than the defending NFC champions. Los Angeles also has the home-field advantage, and the Rams should survive and advance.

The Panthers need the "good" Newton to show up if they are going to beat the Saints. New Orleans won both its regular-season meetings with Carolina, and the Saints should be able to come up with another win at home over their NFC South rivals.

Those results will set up matchups between Tennessee and the New England Patriots and Jacksonville and the Pittsburgh Steelers on the AFC side.

The Rams will travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings in the NFC divisional playoffs, while the Saints will take on the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the other NFC game.