The Tennessee Titans have an incredibly rare opportunity
Despite their current six-game losing streak, the Tennessee Titans have an incredibly rare opportunity in front of them for Week 18. When the Titans go to Jacksonville next weekend to play the Jaguars, it will be a battle for the AFC South crown and a home playoff game during wild card weekend. The rarity of […]
Despite their current six-game losing streak, the Tennessee Titans have an incredibly rare opportunity in front of them for Week 18.
When the Titans go to Jacksonville next weekend to play the Jaguars, it will be a battle for the AFC South crown and a home playoff game during wild card weekend.
The rarity of that opportunity can not be overlooked. If the Titans win next week and head to the playoffs, they will be just the fourth team in NFL history to make the playoffs in a season where they also lost six straight games.
Only one of those previous three teams actually won a playoff game. The 2014 Carolina Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-16 after hosting a playoff game as a 7-8-1 division champion. They are currently the only team in history to lose six straight and still host their game during wild card weekend.
The Titans are fortunate to still have life, and with new quarterback Josh Dobbs showing some flashes against Dallas on Thursday night, the team may have a new reason for hope, as well.
Dobbs, who waited six NFL seasons for this kind of opportunity, is now expected to start for the Titans the rest of the way. The former Tennessee Volunteer knows how fortunate he and the Titans are to still be in the race, and Dobbs is not taking the opportunity for granted.
"It was good to get out there and get this opportunity because the next one is for all the marbles, man," Dobbs told me after the game on Thursday. "You grow up, you dream about playing playoff football in the NFL, you know? And to have that opportunity is one you never take for granted. Because just in my career, my six years, and I’ve been into the playoffs, thankfully three times, but the two years I haven’t, really are tough because you put in a lot of hard work throughout the season. We go out there, we control our own destiny. It’s good to get these reps, now let’s make the most of the next opportunity."
Dobbs has a chance to go from Detroit Lions practice squad QB to starting a playoff game for the Titans all in the span of a few weeks if the team can get a win next weekend.
This opportunity in front of the Titans is truly an extreme rarity. It's time to flip the switch and reward your loyal fans with a home playoff game for all they have supported the team through this season.
Image via Andrew Nelles / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
