NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans’ margin for error is gone, and earning a second straight playoff berth will require finishing this season with a winning flourish.
The Titans (5-6) blew hopes of the franchise’s first AFC South title in a decade by losing two straight games inside the division to cap a stretch of five losses in seven games. Wesley Woodyard isn’t giving up, though the veteran linebacker said he and his teammates can’t be “worried about what we should’ve done.”
“We’ve got a chance to change,” Woodyard said, “and make up for what we’ve been doing these past couple weeks.”
Coming off a 34-17 road loss to the division-leading Houston Texans (8-3) on Monday night, the Titans will try to make their stand at home. They play four of their final five regular-season games at Nissan Stadium, starting today against the New York Jets (3-8). The Titans have won 13 of their past 16 games in Nashville, and linebacker Brian Orakpo said they understand the challenge they face.
A year ago, the Titans went 2-3 in December to miss out on the AFC South title but grab the second wild-card spot, and they went on to upset the Chiefs in Kansas City before being routed by the Patriots in New England. Orakpo said they need to be realistic, ignore all the scenarios and see the Jets as the first step toward winning out.
“We have to give ourselves a chance – 10-6 looks pretty good to me,” Orakpo said. “And we have to make sure that’s a reality and not just some talk.”
Losers of five straight, the Jets hoped to have rookie Sam Darnold back at quarterback after he missed the past two games with an injured foot. New York coach Todd Bowles, whose future seems to be on the clock, declined Friday to say whether Darnold or Josh McCown would start against the Titans.
“I’ve kind of decided,” Bowles said, “but I’ll make it public on Sunday.”