By Jim Wyatt | The Tennessean
As the Titans prepare for the regular-season finale against the Texans, with playoff hopes on the line, Coach Mike Munchak only has to go back to 2006 to find an important lesson for his players.
Heading into the final Sunday that season, the Titans needed a win and plenty of help to make the playoffs.
The Titans lost to the Patriots 40-23, then watched as all the other pieces fell into place -- Denver (a 10½-point favorite) lost to San Francisco; Cincinnati (a 6-point favorite) lost to Pittsburgh; and Jacksonville (a 2½-point underdog) lost to Kansas City.
"A lot of people probably sat there and thought the chances of that happening were slim and none," Munchak said on Monday. "And we would have made the playoffs had we won our football game. It's another example of 'just win your football game and don't worry about everything else.' "
This Sunday the Titans (8-7), a 3-point favorite, need to beat the Texans and they need the Bengals, a 2½-point underdog, to lose to the Ravens.
Then other scenarios would also need to play out for the Titans to stay alive. The Jets, Broncos and Raiders are in the mix as well.
Munchak also reminded his players of last year's Packers, who survived do-or-die games at the end of the season and rolled on to win the Super Bowl.
The Texans beat the Titans 41-7 at LP Field in October.
"I actually don't know the scenarios that well," quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. "I basically know we just have to win and we want Cincy to lose. ... I have been in situations like this, and it has always worked out. But you have to win."