NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — All that matters to the Tennessee Titans is having a healthy Derrick Henry, a driven Ryan Tannehill and one of the NFL’s best defenses back essentially intact to chase a third straight AFC South title.
HOUSTON TEXANS (4-13)
CAMP SITE: Houston
LAST YEAR: The Texans won just four games for the second straight season after winning the AFC South the previous two seasons, costing coach David Culley his job after just one year.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (3-14)
CAMP SITE: Jacksonville, Florida
LAST YEAR: The Jaguars endured one of the most tumultuous coaching tenures in NFL history, with owner Shad Khan ultimately firing three-time national championship-winning coach Urban Meyer after 13 games and countless missteps — including one that resulted in a lawsuit.
HOUSTON (AP) — On a team that could use help at just about every position, the Houston Texans addressed several important needs in this year’s draft.
The Texans won just four games last season for the second straight year after winning the AFC South the previous two seasons as they traded or released almost all their stars.
HOUSTON TEXANS (4-13)
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: QB Tyrod Taylor, RB David Johnson, DT Maliek Collins, CB Terrance Mitchell, C Justin Britt, CB Desmond King, ILB Christian Kirksey, OLB Eric Wilson, OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S A.J.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have taken big steps in four seasons with coach Mike Vrabel reaching an AFC championship game and earning back-to-back AFC South titles along with a No. 1 seed.
HOUSTON (AP) — Having clinched their second straight AFC South title last week, the Tennessee Titans need only a win over the lowly Houston Texans on Sunday to secure the top seed in the AFC playoffs and a coveted first-round bye.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee outside linebacker Bud Dupree has been charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with a physical altercation at a Walgreen's hours after the Titans clinched their second straight AFC South title.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The resilient Tennessee Titans now are two-time AFC South champs and just one victory away from making the AFC playoffs come through Nashville.
So much for a season during which they've been without the league’s two-time rushing champ since Halloween and used 88 players, most ever for a non-strike season in the NFL.
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs' momentum hit a wall in Cincinnati.
The surging Chiefs were 11-4 and had won eight straight. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes had won 26 consecutive games as the starter in the months of November, December and January.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are dancing as back-to-back AFC South champs in a season when they lost the NFL's leading rusher at Halloween and have used 88 players — most ever in a non-strike season for the NFL.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The year was 2008. Brian Flores was elevated from his scouting role and became a full-fledged assistant coach with New England, in what would be Mike Vrabel’s final season playing linebacker for the Patriots.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans know exactly what's on the line Sunday. Stop the Miami Dolphins' historic ride and clinch their second straight AFC South title — no matter what Indianapolis does.
MIAMI (8-7) at TENNESSEE (10-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
BETTING LINE: Titans by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ryan Tannehill has such a bright future that the Tennessee quarterback is in no mood to look back, not when the Titans need one more victory to clinch a second straight AFC South title.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are back at work rested from a weekend off with the math for their second straight AFC South title very simple.
Beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and avoid going to Houston for the regular-season finale needing to beat the Texans for a third straight season.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans know how to fight and not quit, no matter how ugly a game might be.
That's the biggest reason why the Titans are a win, or an Indianapolis loss, from clinching their second straight AFC South title with two games remaining.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Mike Vrabel heard that his banged-up Tennessee Titans were being written off after the left side of their offensive line was ruled out a day before hosting the streaking San Francisco 49ers.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans' grip is slipping not only on a high seed in the AFC but also on the AFC South title that appeared wrapped up on Halloween.
Here comes the streaking San Francisco 49ers on a short week looking to improve their own wild-card hopes — or better — in the final Thursday night game of the NFL season.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-6) at TENNESSEE (9-5)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network
BETTING LINE: 49ers by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have a simple problem that threatens to ruin their strong start to this season.
Too many turnovers.
A team that turned it over all of 12 times for the 2020 season has had 13 in its past three losses.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans had the AFC's No. 1 seed in their hands once again along with a chance to move a win away from clinching their second straight AFC South title.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich challenged his players to show everyone they were more than just a playoff contender.
Saturday's impressive victory over New England proved the Colts were postseason worthy.
Division rivalries add extra spice to NFL matchups. There are a bunch of them in Week 15 as teams hit the stretch run.
OK, maybe no one is paying attention to the AFC South meeting between Houston and Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jihad Ward was hooting, hollering and doing handstands during practice Thursday. He was feeling loose, maybe even relieved, following the firing of coach Urban Meyer.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger still believes the Pittsburgh Steelers have what it takes to be a playoff team.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans returned from their much-needed bye week and got their first home shutout since 2000.
On Sunday, the Titans bested AFC South rival Jacksonville 20-0 thanks to a defense that intercepted Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence four times.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It took the Tennessee Titans a month to find themselves. This version looks pretty comfortable atop the AFC South.
After two turnover-filled debacles and a bye week, the Titans ended up on the other side of a turnover-fest and got back in the win column Sunday.
There’s no cure for a losing streak quite like playing the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars (2-10) have helped four opponents end multi-game skids this season, including three in the past six weeks.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Proof the Tennessee Titans are healthier now than before their bye came in a roster announcement Monday. Seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Julio Jones and two others can start practicing with the team, a big step toward rejoining the active roster.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel learned early that life doesn't always go as desired.
Vrabel watched his father handle wins, losses all the while managing injured players as a high school boys' basketball coach in Ohio.
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans used another big defensive performance and a solid game by Tyrod Taylor to end the NFL’s longest skid with an upset of the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
After turning over the ball four times in their previous game, the Texans didn’t have a turnover against Tennessee and forced five to get the 22-13 win over the AFC South leaders.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are flying high, sitting atop the AFC and tied for the NFL's best record at 8-2. They've beaten five straight playoff teams from last season, something only one other team in league history has accomplished.
HOUSTON (AP) — Houston coach David Culley insists the Texans are working hard to be competitive each week and are not throwing in the towel in hopes of gaining a higher draft pick.
The first-year coach was asked why he’s sticking with veteran Tyrod Taylor at quarterback instead of using these last eight games to develop rookie Davis Mills and focus on the future with Houston’s season lost after dropping the past eight games before Sunday’s bye.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jonathan Taylor's gashing runs and a blocked punt helped the Indianapolis Colts open with a flourish Sunday. Then their defense held tight for the final three quarters.
Your best player gets sidelined for a lengthy period, perhaps the rest of the season, and yet you prosper.
That's been the strange scenario recently in Music City, where the Tennessee Titans still have their groove despite losing running back Derrick Henry — also the top player in the AFC South — to a broken foot.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts took a calculated risk by trading for Carson Wentz in March.
Halfway through the season, the move is paying big dividends.
Wentz has helped the Colts navigate their way from a 1-4 start back into the playoff picture with three wins in their last four games and his confidence appears to be growing by the week.
They lead their divisions and have been prime contenders for the top spot in their conference — and the only playoff bye.
Yet the outlooks for the Tennessee Titans (6-2) and Los Angeles Rams (7-1) aren't close to the same as they meet Sunday.
Not all is lost for the Indianapolis Colts.
Sure, they are three games behind Tennessee in the AFC South. And yes, the Titans swept Indy this season to hold a massive tiebreaker.
Consider this, however: Derrick Henry, the Titans' outstanding running back and the best offensive player in the division, is sidelined possibly for the remainder of the season.
Deshaun Watson’s future destination remains unknown.
The NFL trade deadline passed Tuesday with the Houston Texans keeping the embattled quarterback on their roster. Watson has not played this season amid a trade request and 22 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment or assault.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry will have surgery Tuesday morning on his right foot, and coach Mike Vrabel says the Tennessee Titans are not putting a timeline on when he will return.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have had plenty of experience dealing with injuries this season and now must adapt to their biggest challenge yet.
No Derrick Henry for the foreseeable future.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts should be adjusting their expectations.
They trail division-leading Tennessee by three games and the gap essentially expands to four when factoring in the Titans season sweep.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Titans senior defensive assistant coach Jim Schwartz will miss Tennessee's game Sunday in Indianapolis because of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols.
The Titans announced Saturday night that Schwartz would not be with them for the second game between the AFC South rivals.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Two-time All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard understands what he's facing Sunday.
He must contend again with Derrick Henry's powerful runs and the strong stiff arm that frequently leaves defenders in the dirt.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Derrick Henry is the NFL's two-time defending rushing champ.
Jonathan Taylor hopes to become the top challenger for the title belt.
On Sunday, the league's top two rushers will showcase their styles in Round 2 of a classic matchup between AFC South contenders Tennessee and Indianapolis.