Every NFL team has the same goal before the season starts, other than winning the Lombardi. That goal is to win their Division. Winning your division means you automatically lock up at least the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. Once you lock up that seed you can try to reach higher seeds, but none of that is possible unless you win your division, it's a must literally by rule.
As a Titans fan I have not seen my favorite team win a division title since 2008. That's a long time. I never thought I would see the Titans have that long of a drought, but that is officially in the past now and MAN it feels good to see the Titans on top of this division!!!
Four straight 9-7 seasons followed by an 11-5 season. Counting this season, the Titans have made the playoffs 3 out of the past 5 seasons. Two Wild Card Berths and now a Division Title.
I understand that it isn't a straight up DYNASTY of course, but I do believe it's an impressive accomplishment overall. I know a lot of teams wish they were in the Titans shoes.
Of course the ultimate goal is the LOMBARDI but still man, I am proud of this team and franchise! Playoff talk can wait for another post.
The AFC South is a tough division when you consider everything. I know this season it was basically a two team race between the Titans and Colts, but hear me out. The Titans, Colts, and Texans are all respectable teams if not straight up good teams. The Texans had a bad year but they were just in the playoffs last year and everyone knows the potential of Deshaun Watson and that roster. The Jags stunk it up in 2020 but even they are subject to some randomly good seasons. It was only a few years ago that the Jags took the Patriots into deep waters in the 2017/2018 AFC Title game and almost found themselves in the Super Bowl.
I could go on, but yeah all I'm saying is the AFC South is not exactly an easy division to be successful in. There are two AFC South teams in these playoffs.
I'm just so happy right now!
Clinching the division was not easy as the Texans were trying to play spoiler in Week 17.
I thought the Titans were about to be in control of the game, until the Titans defense did it's ritualistic NEAR CHOKE. The Titans were up 16 points relatively late in the game until the Texans came back and tied it up at 38-38.
Still, even as the Titans defense started to falter, the Titans offense was not ready to lose! Tannehill, Henry, and Brown were instrumental in saving this game.
Henry went OFF again like he always seems to do against the Texans, but I'm gonna save Henry's greatness for another post...
With 18 seconds left and the game nearing OT, the Titans had timeouts and still wanted to end the game in regulation. Tannehill threw an absolute BOMB to A.J. friggin' BROWN for like 50 yards and it was just beautiful. Both the pass and the catch. Brown put on his FAST shoes to catch up with it and he caught it right in his arms right past the artificial red line signifying that was the kicker's minimum distance.
What a great moment.
The near doink...
The Titans lined up for the kick with a backup kicker as Stephen Gostkowski was out with Covid. Backup K Sam Sloman kicked the attempt and the BALL LITERALLY HIT THE UPRIGHT. But luckily the ball hit the upright on the inside of the pole toward the middle and it ended up going through.
My heart seriously dropped at first, the sideline reactions are priceless. Titans rejoices and Texans heartbreak.
All that to clinch the division against a division rival.
Here is a nice video that summarizes all that I just explained.
What a game. What a season, so far...
The Titans face the Ravens on Sunday. That will be a post for later though of course.
2020 AFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS, THE TENNESSEE TITANS!! WON NOT DONE!!
Source Really great pic, I 100 percent do not take credit for creating it!!
#Titanup!!!