Hot streak puts Titans back in the hunt in AFC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans are the NFL's proof that timing is everything.

The Titans are the hottest team in the AFC, winning eight of their last nine after Monday night's 24-7 victory over the New England Patriots. Their 1-4 start is nearly forgotten as they improved to 9-5, closing in on a playoff berth and perhaps home-field advantage.

"The chemistry of this football team is healthy right now," coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday. "We've been winning, and they're playing with confidence. They're working hard, having fun and playing. I think there's a lot to be said for that."

Fisher credited two victories in this streak with helping his Titans avoid any big letdowns.

A 31-23 win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 17, their fifth straight at that point, convinced them they could play with the AFC's best.

Then came a 32-29 overtime victory over the New York Giants on Dec. 1. The Titans trailed by as much as 12 points in the fourth quarter before quarterback Steve McNair rallied them to a victory that helped them bounce back from a 13-12 loss at Baltimore the week before, their only loss since Oct. 6.

"There's where we got our second wind," Fisher said. "We're still feeding off of that right now."

The Titans now are eager to see how much boost they get from the latest victory. It was an emotional game against the defending Super Bowl champs in the Titans' first national television appearance this season.

A team that squandered one of the NFL's best home-field advantages at The Coliseum got that edge back against the Patriots. The biggest crowd ever to squeeze into the stadium stayed loud throughout. The Titans looked more like the team that won 26 games in 1999 and 2000 than the group that went 7-9 last season.

"I've been on the other side of the ball here when it was like that here, but it's a whole lot more fun playing on this side of the ball in front of a crowd like this," said running back Robert Holcombe, a former Ram. "I look forward to seeing what this football team can do here in the next couple of weeks."

If the Titans beat Jacksonville (6-8) on Sunday, they clinch a playoff berth. A victory, combined with an Indianapolis loss to the Giants, gives them the AFC South title.

They finish on the road at Houston. A variety of other combinations give them a chance at home-field advantage through the playoffs in a stadium where they went 6-2 this season.

Tennessee just needs to keep playing the same way it has during this streak, which is matched only by Philadelphia.

The Titans have held the ball more than 31 minutes, 41 seconds per game, and leads the NFL in time of possession. They had the ball a season-best 41:30 against New England. The offensive line, which gave up 39 sacks through 14 games last year, has allowed 19 this season.

Tennessee struggled to run the ball during its 1-4 start. It has gone over 100 yards in each of the past nine games, capped by 238 yards rushing against New England, the Titans' best since rushing for 255 against Oakland on Aug. 31, 1997.

Eddie George, who turned in only his third 100-yard rushing performance this season, said the Titans are focusing not on what they have done, but on what they need to do better.

"By no means are we taking the approach that we've arrived and we're the favorites," he said, "because what does it make a difference to us? You know you don't get rings right now."