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While it’d be cool for the Texans to have a shot at the third seed in the AFC Playoffs, it’d be far cooler if they had all their players as healthy as possible when the postseason begins next weekend. If the Chiefs beat the Chargers as expected today, Houston is locked in to the fourth seed and a date with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Playoffs. What happens at NRG Stadium against the Titans this afternoon does not matter at all to the Texans if Kansas City improves to 12-4. Bill O’Brien should treat today like a preseason game and focus on the season that begins in January 4th.
The Titans, however...they need to beat the Texans today to clinch a wild card berth (though they can also sneak into the postseason if the Steelers lose to the Ravens). Week 17 matters to the Titans like few other teams. This is the biggest game of Tennessee's season, and they will rightly give it every ounce of their attention.
Quite a contrast, huh? Talk about all that and more as we await the first quarter thread publishing at 3:15 p.m. CST. A separate thread will post for the early slate of games at 11:45 a.m.