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The Tennesee Titans are back in the postseason after a one-year hiatus. Now reaching the postseason in two of the last four seasons while winning a total of 36 regular-season games during that same span, the Titans most recently defeated the rival Houston Texans on the road en route to securing the final seed in the AFC playoff picture.
The Titans will hit the road once again to take on the No. 3 seed New England Patriots, who will notably enter the postseason as the defending Super Bowl Champions.
The Titans have been red hot down the stretch as many believe that the surging AFC South franchise has a legitimate chance of upending New England, who were edged by the rival Miami Dolphins at home on Sunday afternoon; in turn, forcing them into the wild card.
Although it won't be an easy road, the Titans can potentially serve as a legitimate threat in the AFC despite being late to secure a spot in the postseason. However, there are some burning questions to answer.
3. Can Ryan Tannehill and A.J. Brown continue their success?
Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill began the season as the backup signal-caller for the Titans. However, since coming in to relieve the team's former starter Marcus Mariota, he has been nothing but stellar for the Titans, which has helped turn things around in Nashville.
Aiding Tannehill and his continued success throughout the back end of the regular season is former Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown. The second-round pick from this past year's NFL Draft has played himself into the top of the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation. He is a big-play pass catcher that has helped lead the Titans offense alongside Tannehill.
The tandem of Tannehill and Brown needs to continue their productive ways in the postseason if the Titans have any chance of making a deep run. Though the Titans offense lives through the production of starting running back Derrick Henry and its rushing attack, they have become a high scoring powerhouse thanks to the team's ability to pass the ball — largely thanks to Tannehill and Brown.
2. Can Derrick Henry remain healthy?
Running back Derrick Henry only appeared in 15 regular-season games due to a lingering hamstring injury. However, after taking a much needed week off in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints, Henry returned for Week 17's win over the Houston Texans en route to capturing the league's rushing title for the regular season.
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Henry is the only running back to reach the 1,500-yard rushing mark in 2019. He looked quite healthy — and then some — against the Texans as he notably tallied over 200 yards and three touchdowns via the ground game in the win.
Henry needs to be at full health as the Titans travel to Massachusetts to take on the Patriots. A week off may have 100 percent corrected his hamstring woes, but a big game from Henry in Week 17 may have hindered him a bit as well.
Even so, expect the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout and Heisman Trophy winner to give the Titans everything he has to offer in the divisional round of the playoffs.
1. Will the Titans' defense show up come playoff time?
The Tennessee Titans started the season with one of the NFL's most stout defenses. However, injuries have since ravaged the unit as defensive coordinator Dean Pees has done everything in his power to keep things intact down the stretch.
They have most notably lost starting cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Adoree' Jackson and veteran pass rusher Cameron Wake to injuries. The Titans as a whole have endured even more injuries than that, but the losses of the aforementioned trio have no doubt impacted the pass defense.
If the Titans have any shot of upending the Patriots or making a serious run at a Super Bowl title, the defense is going to need to show up — and in a big way, at that.
