Coaches in any sport who are largely devoid of ego often admit, "It's not the Xs and Os but the Jimmys and Joes" that are most often the difference between victory and defeat.

The Tennessee Titans are rested and healthier than they've been in weeks, maybe months. They also know their next opponent.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan walked onto the field with an emphatic nod, believing his team had beaten the Dallas Cowboys after a chaotic finish that left many unsure of what was happening.

As the game clock expired, Tom Brady raised his arms in triumph along the sideline, whirled and tossed a football into the stands.

The Kansas City Chiefs were going nowhere on offense early in Sunday night's AFC wild-card playoff game, and then their situation got worse. And after that, a whole lot better.

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills erased any doubt of who now rules the AFC East.

Paul Brown Stadium nearly shook in triumph. The city of Cincinnati might have, too.

Mike Vrabel was given one charge when hired as coach of the Tennessee Titans in January 2018.

Five players were unanimous choices for The Associated Press 2021 NFL All-Pro Team, including one on each side of the ball for the Los Angeles Rams.

It seems no team ever needed a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs more than this season's Tennessee Titans.

The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team that didn't lose a home game during the recently completed regular season.

Professional athletes who have refused to be vaccinated have been put at center court in a larger contest.

It would be easier for the Atlanta Falcons to make plans for the future if they had more clarity on wide receiver Calvin Ridley's status. They have started the offseason work of preparing for the NFL draft and free agency without a clear answer on that front.

The Tennessee Titans have a chance to see if the third time is the charm.

The Atlanta Falcons have made dramatic progress in close games.

The AFC playoffs will be running through Music City, and the Tennessee Titans should have Derrick Henry back for their first game this postseason.

After a great first half, the Tennessee Titans were clinging to a three-point lead in the fourth quarter Sunday, having allowed the Houston Texans to score 18 in a row.

Nobody left Mercedes-Benz Stadium happy Sunday. Not the host Atlanta Falcons, who closed a fourth straight losing season by falling to a bitter rival. And not the New Orleans Saints, who won the game but lost their bid for the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel said the team has some time to make the decision on moving Derrick Henry from injured reserve back to the active roster.

Cheering fans returned to NFL stadiums in capacity this season, forcing road teams to use silent counts and other coping mechanisms to deal with the noise.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Antonio Brown still don't agree on the nature of his exit from Sunday's game. Four days later, though, there is no debating the fact that he is no longer on the roster.

The Tennessee Titans have moved a step closer to having their biggest star back on the playing field.

Zac Taylor wasn't born until four years after Molly Hatchet released "Flirtin' With Disaster" in 1979.