Tennessee Titans: Examining Everything That Has To Happen To Win AFC South

It seems like it happens every year. The Titans make a last-minute playoff push after burying themselves earlier in the season.

Once again, the Titans will need a lot of help to make the playoffs.

Winning one of the AFC Wildcards has been a lost cause for a while now thanks to the domination of both the AFC North and the AFC East.

The AFC South must finish in a three-way tie at 8-8 between the Titans, Colts, and Jaguars for the Titans to make the playoffs for the sixth time since going to the Super Bowl in 2000.

It's pretty hard to believe that the Titans have even a remote chance at winning a division that usually required 12 to 13 wins to have a chance.

Here's everything that has to happen for the Titans to reach the playoffs.

Defeat The Chiefs at Arrowhead

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs against the Houston Texans at LP Field on December 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Texans, 31-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

How's this for a challenge? Going into a revived Arrowhead Stadium and defeat a team that is fighting for a division title of its own in the AFC West.

This might be one of the toughest games the Titans will play for the entire season when it's all said and done.

Matt Cassel, Jamaal Charles, and Dwayne Bowe will be an extremely difficult task for a Titans defense that hasn't always looked great this season.

The Chiefs will almost certainly try to establish the run and control the clock, as they have NFL's third-leading rusher in Charles.

Thomas Jones isn't all that bad, either.

The x-factor of this game will be whether or not the Titans can do exactly the same thing by controlling the clock with Chris Johnson, and hoping Kenny Britt can continue to put up big receiving numbers.

Raiders Must Defeat The Colts

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Tommy Kelly #93 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after the Raiders scored a safety during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Sh

As you may know, the Colts have to lose their final two games for the Titans to have a chance. It starts this weekend with the Raiders.

Titans fans will have to be temporary Raiders fans this week as the Colts head into the Black Hole.

The Colts are completely disjointed right now with injuries, but Peyton Manning is still lining up under center. That simple fact should scare any Titans fan at this point.

However, the Raiders are playing inspired football right now, and they're fielding one of the best teams they've seen in years.

It's never easy to win in Oakland with their passionate fans, so it's not out of the realm of possibility for the Raiders to pull off the win.

Look for Darren McFadden to torch this Colts run defense that is one of the Achilles heels for this team.

We've already seen the Raiders rise up and win an unexpected game against the Chargers a few weeks ago. No reason that can't happen again.

Redskins Must Defeat The Jaguars

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Rex Grossman #8 of the Washington Redskins during play against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

This might be the game that destroys everything for the Titans.

The Redskins are one of the worst teams in the NFC, and they're going through a ton of issues at the quarterback position.

We have to hope as Titans fans that Rex Grossman has one of the better performances of his career. He did show some promise last week against Cowboys, but asking him to do that for a second-straight week might be asking for too much.

I'm still not sold on Jacksonville, however. This team has gotten lucky to get in this position, and it's not completely crazy to think that Jacksonville will come back down to reality.

It might come down to whether or not Maurice Jones-Drew will be able to play. He's listed as doubtful, which levels the playing field tremendously.

Crazier things have happened.

Defeat the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 09: Pierre Garcon #85 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball after a reception while defended by Chris Hope #24 of the Tennessee Titans during the NFL game at LP Field on December 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo b

It seems like the Titans have been down this road before with the Colts standing in their way of making the playoffs.

Back in 2007 the Titans had to beat the Colts to complete their run for the postseason, and capitalized with a win at Indy.

Things will be different this time around as the Colts probably won't be resting any starters like that game in 2007.

We all know the Titans are capable of beating the Colts.

Just two weeks ago the Titans came up just short of defeating the Colts, losing 30-28. Some questionable play calls, and untimely turnovers cost the Titans a huge win.

The Colts are not the same Colts team we've come to know over the years. Their vulnerable and very beatable.

If the Titans secondary decides to show up, and yes I'm talking to you Cortland Finnegan, then this game could easily swing the Titans way.

Texans Must Defeat The Jaguars

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Andre Johnson #80 and Jacoby Jones #12 of the Houston Texans celebrate after Johnson's touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Texans, 31-17. (

As a Titans fan I can relate to what the Texans are going through right now.

They started strong out of the gate, only to put it in reverse and go the wrong direction.

Hopefully the Texans are still playing for pride when this season finale rolls around. That is if everything else has fallen into place up to this point.

It's difficult to figure this team out, much like Jacksonville. This game looks to be a toss-up, but I do like a lot of the things that the Texans have done this season despite the record.

After the demoralizing overtime loss to the Ravens a couple weeks ago, it seemed that the Texans lost all desire to play.

We have to pray that head coach Gary Kubiak gives this team a reason to keep fighting. When this team fights, they're capable of hanging with anyone offensively.

Of course the secondary is nothing to write home about, but Jacksonville's passing game doesn't scare me too much, either.

Could Maurice Jones-Drew still be out by this time? That could make Jacksonville one-dimensional and make the Texans a realistic favorite to win this game.

It all rests on how much pride the Texans still want to play for.

In Closing ...

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 19: Coach Jeff Fisher of the Tennessee Titans calls instructions to his team against the Houston Texans at LP Field on December 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Texans, 31-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/G

In all honesty, the Titans probably don't deserve that division title for the way they've played in the second half of the season.

There's no reason to think that the Titans could do any damage if they were lucky enough to make the playoffs.

However, this is what makes the NFL so fun to watch. The fact that so many different scenarios will determine which of these three teams gets that coveted playoff spot.

Out of all three of these teams, the Colts could probably do the most damage in the playoffs thanks to Peyton Manning.

It is all about how you finish, and if the Titans sneak then they will be on a three-game winning streak heading in.

It's never fun when your team doesn't control their own destiny, but they put themselves in this position by losing games to bottom-feeders like Denver and Washington.