Tennessee Titans: Season Can Be Considered a Success Win or Lose on Sunday

It's been another rollercoaster season for the Tennessee Titans, and the crazy ride could very well come to an end at Reliant Stadium against the playoff-bound Houston Texans.

On top of beating the Texans, the Titans need a host of other things to happen for them to get the AFC's No. 6 seed in the playoffs

After the lockout stretched deep into the summer and training camps were pretty much eliminated, many didn't give the young Titans even a prayer at making the playoffs in the tough AFC.

Chris Johnson has struggled to eclipse even 50 yards in many games, much less playing at the Pro Bowl level that the Titans needed him to play at to have any chance.

Losing star receiver Kenny Britt early in the season should have probably stuck the nail in the coffin at any hope of the Titans making the playoffs, but somehow they have figured out a way to remain alive.

Sensing a trend here?

This team has had more than their fair share of unfortunate things happen to them, and yet they've battled to get where they're at now.

With that said, the Titans have well exceeded their expectations this season if you're a realist. That will remain the case even if they lose their season finale and miss the postseason.

Last offseason the Titans organization made it clear that it's time to start over. They overhauled the coaching staff, brought in two new quarterbacks and have relied heavily on rookie starters this season.

Those rookies that have played so well this season will be the cornerstone of this team for years to come.

Then you have Jake Locker, who has come in and played just as well as any other rookie quarterback has played this season, but with obviously very limited action.

Who knows what Locker would have done if he would've been the starter from the start of the season. After all, the NFL has become a passing league and the Titans seem like they have a great leader to take snap for them for a long time.

As sweet as a playoff berth would be for the Titans this season, if you widen the view the future is even brighter for this young team.

The Titans have continued their success with another round of productive draft picks and have a ton to build off of from this season.

Guys like Locker, Colin McCarthy, Karl Klug and Akeem Ayers look to be vital pieces of the Titans for years to come.

With all things considered, you really have to give rookie head coach Mike Munchak all the credit in the world for doing what he's done with this young team whether they finish 8-8 or 9-7.

If the Titans do figure out a way into this season's playoffs, then we'll really have something special to pull from this season. In the meantime, let's give this team its due for exceeding expectations and giving fans a reason to be excited again in Nashville.