STATS Hosted Solution

(AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans have some very simple math to clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 and second playoff berth in three seasons.

Sweep the Houston Texans.

The Titans (8-5) have won four straight and six of seven to have a chance at the postseason after a 2-4 start in a season salvaged after the switch at quarterback from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill. How much better this season becomes depends on what they do Sunday when they host the Texans, the first of two games between these teams in the final three weeks.

Pats eye 11th playoff appearance in row

CINCINNATI (AP) Zac Taylor watched helplessly on the Rams' sideline as Bill Belichick's defense thwarted everything they tried to do in the Super Bowl. The first-year Bengals coach has even fewer options at hand when they go head-to-head again.

The Patriots can clinch their 11th straight playoff appearance Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium by thwarting Taylor's best designs. He was the Rams' quarterbacks coach when New England won the title. (MORE)

Seahawks looking to secure playoff berth
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Not too long ago the Carolina Panthers viewed the Seattle Seahawks as their biggest rivals in the NFC. Now the franchises are headed in vastly different directions. (MORE)

Packers set to host surging Bears
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Heading into the season opener between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, nobody knew what to expect from first-year coach Matt LaFleur, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense. Fourteen weeks later, it's still a mystery. (MORE)

Bills seek playoff spot, visit Steelers

PITTSBURGH (AP) Sean McDermott remembers lining up across from Mike Tomlin and wanting to do everything he could to impress everyone watching, from the William & Mary coaches to his teammates to Tomlin himself. It comes with the territory when you're a freshman defensive back and the wide receiver you're facing happens to be an upperclassman and a team captain.

"We had our battles," said McDermott, who played with Tomlin for two seasons in 1993-94. "I was a walk-on, he was a scholarship athlete. He was established and I was just trying to get a pair of cleats." (MORE)

Lakers bring 13-game road run to Atlanta

76ers face Nets riding 5-game win streak
Eight months ago, the Brooklyn Nets found few answers in attempting to contain Joel Embiid. The result was a first-round exit in five games at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers. Two months after losing in the postseason, the Nets drastically remade their roster, while the 76ers were unable to retain Jimmy Butler, who signed with the Miami Heat. (MORE)

Burrow wins Heisman in landslide vote
NEW YORK (AP) Born into a family of Cornhuskers and raised in the Buckeye state, Joe Burrow left his roots behind and became a Heisman Trophy winner at LSU. The quarterback won the Heisman on Saturday night in a record-breaking landslide, becoming the first LSU player to bring college football's most prestigious award back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 60 years. (MORE)

Woods, US rally to win Presidents Cup
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The emotions poured out of Tiger Woods, just like they did at Augusta National in the spring, except this felt different. The Masters was for him. (MORE)

Bucks beat Cavs for 18th straight win