Revived Titans can dream of playoffs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans, the team that seemingly blew its Super Bowl dreams with a dreadful 0-6 start, will play a game that matters tonight.

And it won’t just matter for the San Diego Chargers.

Tennessee is among six AFC teams tied at 7-7 and mathematically alive in the playoff chase, just one game behind the last wild-card berth. The Titans already have made NFL history by clawing back to .500 after that 0-6 start. According to STATS, no NFL team has finished at .500 or better after starting 0-6.

Talk about a titanic turnaround.

“Anytime a team goes 0-6 and gets back to .500 and has a chance to get to the playoffs, you’ve accomplished something,” Titans center Kevin Mawae said. “We can’t rest on that. We’ve got to continue on. We’ve got a great team.”

The Titans never lost the confidence gained from last season’s 13-3 record, even after the sixth loss in a 59-0 rout at New England. Coach Jeff Fisher sent them home for their bye with permission to forget football, a welcome mental break. Owner Bud Adams ordered Vince Young off the bench and into the lineup, and their banged-up secondary healed up.

Since then, they’ve been nearly unstoppable, winning seven of eight. Only New Orleans has averaged more yards on offense (413.9 to 398) or points (30.6 to 29.5) than Tennessee. No pressure, only opportunity.

San Diego (11-3) is also on a roll, having won nine consecutive games.