Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans

As the NFL regular season enters its final stretch, the Tennessee Titans find themselves staring at a harsh reality: their post-season outlook has grown increasingly dim, with a combination of on-field struggles, key injuries, and a competitive AFC field pushing their playoff hopes to the brink. Sitting at 6-8 with just two games remaining, the Titans trail multiple teams in the wild-card race and face a daunting closing schedule against division rivals. What began as a season with modest playoff aspirations has devolved into a fight to avoid a third consecutive non-playoff finish—a trend that highlights deeper issues within the franchise. Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans examines the factors that have derailed the Titans’ playoff push and why a late-season turnaround appears unlikely.

The Titans’ offensive inconsistencies have been the biggest drag on their playoff hopes, with a unit that has failed to find rhythm or reliability. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, once a steady performer, has struggled mightily this season: he’s thrown 14 interceptions (a career high) and has a passer rating of 82.3, his lowest since 2019. The passing game has lacked explosiveness, ranking 26th in the NFL in yards per pass attempt (6.5), and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins—signed to boost the attack—has been limited by injuries, missing three games and failing to top 100 yards in any contest since Week 5. The running game, long the Titans’ backbone, has also faltered: Derrick Henry, while still productive (978 yards, 10 touchdowns), has seen his yards per carry drop to 4.0, his lowest since 2018, due to an offensive line that has allowed 46 sacks (fourth-most in the league). “This offense can’t stay on the field long enough to build momentum,” said a local NFL analyst. “They’re either turning the ball over or punting after three plays, and that’s not a formula for winning close games—let alone making the playoffs.” Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans emphasizes that the offense’s inability to consistently score or control the clock has left the Titans unable to keep pace with playoff contenders.

The Titans’ defensive struggles have only compounded their post-season woes, with a unit that has gone from a strength to a liability. After ranking in the top 10 in total defense last season, the Titans now sit 22nd, allowing 359.8 yards per game. The secondary, in particular, has been a problem: they’ve given up 21 touchdown passes and rank 28th in passing yards allowed per game (256.2). Cornerback Kristian Fulton has been inconsistent, and safety Kevin Byard—once a lockdown playmaker—has failed to record an interception for the first time in his career. The pass rush, led by Jeffery Simmons, has shown flashes (38 sacks total), but it’s been too sporadic to disrupt opposing quarterbacks consistently. In their recent loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans allowed Trevor Lawrence to throw for 315 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard bomb to Calvin Ridley that sealed the game. “This defense used to win games for us,” said a former Titans defensive lineman. “Now, they’re giving up big plays at the worst possible times, and that’s killing any chance of a playoff run.” Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans highlights that the defense’s sudden decline has left the Titans without a safety net to offset their offensive struggles.

The Tennessee Titans also face a brutal closing schedule that does them no favors in their push for the playoffs. Their final two games are against the Houston Texans (9-5) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)—both division rivals fighting for their own playoff spots. The Texans, led by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, have emerged as the surprise of the AFC South, with an offense that ranks 12th in points per game (24.1) and a defense that has forced 28 turnovers. The Jaguars, meanwhile, have already beaten the Titans twice this season, including a 31-24 victory earlier this month that eliminated the Titans from division title contention. “Playing two division leaders in the final two weeks is a death sentence for a team like the Titans,” said a national NFL reporter. “The Texans and Jaguars have more to play for, and they’ve already proven they can beat Tennessee this season.” For the Tennessee Titans, even splitting these two games would likely not be enough—they’d need multiple teams ahead of them in the wild-card race to lose, a scenario that’s statistically unlikely given the consistency of teams like the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans shows that the Tennessee Titans’ schedule has stacked the deck against a late playoff surge.

Another factor dooming the Tennessee Titans’ post-season outlook is the depth of competition in the AFC, where even teams with winning records are at risk of missing the playoffs. Currently, seven AFC teams have records of 9-5 or better, and four more (including the Titans) are fighting for the three wild-card spots. The Titans trail the Browns (9-5), Colts (8-6), and Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) in the wild-card race, and they hold the tiebreaker over none of these teams. To make the playoffs, the Titans would need to win both remaining games and have at least two of these teams lose their final two contests—a scenario with a less than 5% probability, according to NFL playoff projection models. “The AFC is too deep this year,” said a playoff analytics expert. “Teams that would have made the playoffs in weaker years are going to be left out, and the Titans are one of those teams. They just don’t have the resume or the momentum to climb the ladder.” For the Tennessee Titans, this means even a perfect finish might not be enough—a harsh reality that has already led some players to acknowledge the long odds. Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans underscores that the Tennessee Titans’ playoff hopes are victims of a loaded AFC field.

Finally, the Tennessee Titans’ recent roster moves and coaching decisions have signaled a shift toward rebuilding—further dimming their post-season outlook. The team traded defensive end Denico Autry to the Philadelphia Eagles at the trade deadline, a move that weakened their pass rush in exchange for future draft capital. They also fired offensive coordinator Brian Callahan mid-season, leading to offensive inconsistency as interim coordinator Charles London adjusts to the role. These moves suggest the front office has already turned its attention to 2025, prioritizing long-term roster health over a short-term playoff push. “When you trade away key veterans and fire coordinators mid-season, it’s a clear sign you’re not serious about winning now,” said a former NFL general manager. “The Titans are in a transition phase, and that’s not a mindset that leads to playoff runs.” For the Tennessee Titans, this rebuild-focused approach has sapped team morale, with some players admitting privately that the team lacks the “edge” needed to win close games. Post-Season Outlook Dim for the Tennessee Titans concludes that the Tennessee Titans’ post-season hopes are not just dashed by on-field struggles, but by a franchise that has already begun looking toward the future. As the final games of the season unfold, the Titans will likely play for pride rather than playoff spots—a fitting end to a season that never quite lived up to its potential.