Beating Broncos would boost buzz about Titans
It won’t be like this next year, this tingly buzz accompanying meaningful football games in December, and the year after that it should be an outright disappointment to be sitting at .500 after 12 games.
That’s where the Tennessee Titans are headed, to serious relevance in the NFL. Based on quarterback Marcus Mariota moving toward stardom in his second season, the growing support network around him and the idea that first-year general manager Jon Robinson will continue making shrewd moves, the Titans will be expected to make the playoffs in 2017.
And if that becomes the norm, we’ll see if the right formula can be found — even as Mariota’s salary gobbles up more of the Titans’ cap space starting in 2018 — to chase the ultimate goal. This should all be very exciting for fans who have been waiting for a playoff team since 2008.
But what about this team? This flawed, up-and-down, expectationsexceeding team. As much as the 2016 season feels like a prelude to better days featuring big cornerbacks and a No. 1 receiver, there is something to be said for that breakthrough tingle.
And if the 6-6, AFC South co-leading Titans can find a way to beat the 8-4, defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos on Sunday at Nissan Stadium, a playoff appearance this season will again be a viable discussion. That would mean a chance to fast-forward the entire process — and I happen to think this team, at its very best, could pose problems for someone in the playoffs.
At its worst, it could take a throttling from the Broncos and fade from the picture well before a Jan. 1 season finale at Nissan Stadium against the Houston Texans. The Titans have the toughest remaining schedule of the three division leaders — a trip to Kansas City is up next before Dec. 24 relief at Jacksonville and the Texans — and their poor performance in division games means they need to win the division outright.
They need the Colts to hand the Texans a seventh loss Sunday, and then they need the Colts to go lose at Minnesota and Oakland before finishing at home vs. the Jags. The Texans get Jacksonville and Cincinnati at home after visiting Indy, so 8-7 is their most likely record entering Nashville.
If the Texans win three to get to 9-6, or if the Colts beat them and follow up with a win at Minnesota, the Titans would have to win out to make the final game matter. And that’s asking an awful lot, especially considering Kansas City has taken command of the AFC West at 10-3 and is fighting for the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. But that’s where things may end up.
“To win every single game,” Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan said of the mindset in the locker room. “That’s as simple as it possibly could be.”
Just win this one and there’s at least a reasonable path to a division title at 9-7. But that will require this team’s best collective effort to overcome some glaring mismatches.
Mike Mularkey isn’t saying who will start at cornerback opposite Jason McCourty, but it should be Brice McCain or Valentino Blake, with support from rookie LeShaun Sims. For those who were thrilled with the release of Perrish Cox, imagine the thrill level of elite receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders as they consider these matchups.
The chances of starting quarterback Trevor Siemian (foot) starting have improved through the week, while they’re very uncertain for the centerpiece of the Titans defense, lineman Jurrell Casey (foot). Take him out and the inside disruption decreases and the pass rush weakens and those corners are even more vulnerable.
But maybe the Titans offense can do enough. It should have some running success against the Broncos. That’s the main help that can be provided to outstanding tackles Lewan and Jack Conklin as they try to slow down overwhelming pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.
And what if the Titans can keep Mariota clean? Can his receivers win on the outside against Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr.?
“They call themselves the ‘No Fly Zone’ and stuff like that, but you’ve got to go out there and win your matchups, and it’s gonna be a good competition for us,” said Rishard Matthews, who has seven touchdown catches in the past eight games. “I’m sure they’ll play one-on-one outside. Any time you get one-on-one, you get excited. But they’re a great team, front end and back end.”
The Titans will probably need a big day from tight end Delanie Walker, some improvisational magic from Mariota, a big turnover or two. And some help from the folks who by now should see that the cellar-dwelling days are gone.
“I think our fans, we’re trying to get them to come back and see that we’re doing things the right way, we’re going in the right direction,” Mularkey said. “I think they feel that. This is an important game for us, so we need their support, need them out there.”