AFC Playoff Picture: How can the Titans clinch a playoff spot? Qualifying scenarios explained

When the Tennessee Titans fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14, they squandered a great chance to make things simpler for themselves.

Tennessee still have a roughly 90% likelihood of making the postseason, regardless. They remain in a great situation to capture the AFC South, which would guarantee a playoff spot and a postseason game at home, despite their 36-22 loss at Jacksonville.

Winning three of the final four matchups—away at the Los Angeles Chargers, home against the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys, and then a Week 18 matchup at Jacksonville—is a clear-cut method to claim the division. The Titans would then move to 10-7. Other teams in the division are all limited to nine victories.

The Titans' worst-case situation is losing their next three games while the Jaguars win their upcoming three games, necessitating a winner-take-all game in Week 18 in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have formally alerted Tennessee for 2023, but the chances are still in Tennessee's favor to win the AFC South.

Why are the Tennessee Titans struggling?

The Tennessee Titans had a problematic Sunday after falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 36-22, in a humiliating third straight defeat.

The Titans missed an enormous chance, rendering it exceedingly difficult for any other AFC South franchise to pass Tennessee for the division title.

It might take a catastrophic collapse for Tennessee to fail to capture their third consecutive division championship amid a three-game losing streak.

Tennessee has accumulated a sufficient cushion to hold off the Jags. But given this performance, it is evident that their campaign won't go much beyond that.

Since the start of the campaign, we have been aware of the Titans' offensive flaws, notably their subpar attacking performances and subpar receiving quality. However, their current defensive woes make this side even harder to get back in the remaining games.

The Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee's most recent opposition, both scored a minimum of 35 points in routs without having a solid rushing attack.

They dropped their most recent game, dropping their record from 7-3 to 7-6. Mike Vrabel had not had a three-game losing streak since his first season as manager in 2018. At 7-6, they still have a good chance of winning the AFC South and playing a postseason game at home.