Bye Week: The AFC Playoff Picture. by Ben Williams

There are many things to consider for the Tennessee Titans heading into their week 8 bye. Of these are overall health of players, preparations for an upcoming match-up against the St. Louis Rams, and above all where they stand in the overall playoff picture.

Tennessee, though starting fast has been on a three game stink chute, losing to K.C., Seattle, and San Francisco. Before the season many agreed that this was a 2 to 6 win team at best taking into account the team's lack of success in 2012 and an absurdly difficult schedule. To be 3-4 at this point in the season is not satisfactory by their standards, but not all bad.

A smart man would have to figure the Titans will have a shot to bounce back following this bye week as the worst of the schedule has already passed. In their first seven games, Tennessee has faced opponents with a combined record of 30-18. In the upcoming nine games, opponents have a current combined record of 26-36. It also helps that they play the hapless 0-7 Jaguars twice.

Of course numbers don't tell the whole story, but those same numbers are the reason why so many predicted the Titans to have little success banging heads with such a difficult schedule. The combined 2012 record of Houston, Indianapolis, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle was 58-21-1. They obviously play division rivals Houston and Indianapolis twice. And the Kansas City Chiefs, who are the only remaining unbeaten team in 2013, were 2-14 last year. Who saw that coming?

The point is that, although anyone can beat anyone any Sunday, the hardest part is over for the Titans and things in the AFC may not look as bleak as their below .500 record might indicate.

It would figure that either Kansas City or Denver will be claiming one of the two available wildcard playoff spots, but the second is up for grabs. Of the teams in the AFC chasing that second spot are the N.Y. Jets at 4-3, San Diego at 4-3, Miami at 3-3 and Baltimore, Cleveland, and Tennessee all at 3-4. It certainly helps that the Titans hold a tie-breaking win over both San Diego and New York.

Most teams in the NFL are separated by only inches. This is the turning point in the season where the good teams assert themselves in a position for the post-season and the bad teams fade.