NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Titans are above .500 for the first time this season and tied atop the AFC South for a second straight week.
For the Denver Broncos, the NFL’s toughest finish is even more rugged – they’re in a scrap for a playoff spot, just for a chance to defend their Super Bowl title.
The Titans used the NFL’s third-best rushing attack to control the first half and jump out to a 13-point lead, then held on to beat Denver 13-10 Sunday for their biggest win in years.
“To come out here and put ourselves in position for the AFC South and to beat the defending Super Bowl champions, who have been doing their thing all year, and for us to come out here and really shut them down, that was definitely gratifying,” Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said.
Now tied with Houston, the Titans (7-6) hadn’t been tied for the division lead this late in a season since winning the AFC South wire-to-wire in 2008. It’s a big turnaround for a franchise that drafted Marcus Mariota at No. 2 overall in 2015 before winding up with the No. 1 overall pick, which they traded away to help rebuild.