Christmas in Nashville means football

[December 24, 2009]  EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- From 2-3 to 11-3 and division champions is very impressive. It's what the San Diego Chargers have done.

Yet, in some ways it pales in comparison to Tennessee's rise from 0-6 to 7-7 and a shot at a wild-card berth.

When the teams meet Christmas night in Nashville -- the third time the Titans have hosted a game on the holiday in this decade -- plenty will be on the line for Tennessee. The Titans need to sweep their final two games because, even though they are at .500, so are five other AFC teams. Tiebreakers do not fall in Tennessee's corner right now.

"Anytime a team goes 0-6 and gets back to .500 and has a chance to get to the playoffs, you've accomplished something," Titans veteran center Kevin Mawae said. "We can't rest on that. We've got to continue on. We've got a great team."

Not as strong as it was last week on defense, though, after linebacker and team leader Keith Bulluck tore left knee ligaments.

For San Diego, a win earns a first-round playoff bye. Apparently that's not enough incentive for the oddsmakers, who have installed the Chargers as 2 1/2-point underdogs.

Not enough incentive for us, either.

TITANS, 20-19

Houston (plus 3) at Miami

Of the 7-7 AFC squads, Dolphins are best bet to sneak into playoffs. And this week's ...

BEST BEST: DOLPHINS, 27-20

Oakland (plus 3) at Cleveland

Browns have won two in a row, Raiders have taken three of five. Go with the better coaching.

UPSET SPECIAL: RAIDERS, 13-10

N.Y. Jets (plus 7) at Indianapolis

Jets have enough defense to keep it interesting, too little offense to pull off a stunner.

COLTS, 20-10

Minnesota (minus 7 1/2) at Chicago (Monday night)

L'affaire Favre/Childress gives the Vikings another reason to beat up on the Bears.

VIKINGS, 24-10

Seattle (plus 13 1/2) at Green Bay

Green Bay defense needs to reassert itself, and this is perfect opponent.

PACKERS, 21-7

Kansas City (plus 13 1/2) at Cincinnati

Time for Bengals to put away AFC North and turn their sights to the playoffs.

BENGALS, 20-3

Jacksonville (plus 8) at New England

Time for Patriots to put away AFC East and turn their sights on the playoffs.

PATRIOTS, 20-14

Carolina (plus 7) at N.Y. Giants

Panthers have little play for, but always make it tough on Giants at Meadowlands.

GIANTS, 21-17

Tampa Bay (plus 16) at New Orleans

Saints will clinch NFC home-field advantage, allowing them to rest regulars in finale.

SAINTS, 35-14

Baltimore (plus 2) at Pittsburgh

Sorry, just can't see Steelers going 1-5 in the division.

STEELERS, 21-20

Denver (plus 8) at Philadelphia

Critical game for both teams, although Eagles already own playoff spot. They also are surging, Broncos are sputtering.

EAGLES, 23-14

Dallas (minus 6) at Washington

Cowboys playing like they want to keep head coach. Redskins appear to have quit on their coach.

COWBOYS, 27-10

St. Louis (plus 14) at Arizona

Ken Whisenhunt wants a sharp bunch finishing out the season, even if sloppy didn't hurt the Cardinals before the 2008 playoffs.

CARDINALS, 30-9

Buffalo (plus 7) at Atlanta

Falcons never have had two straight winning records. They're 7-7 now and want to erase that fact.

FALCONS, 17-9

Detroit (plus 11 1/2) at San Francisco

All the incentive here belongs to Niners, who want to break six-season string of losing records.

49ERS, 23-10

___

RECORD:

Versus spread, 5-6-1 (93-111-3 season); Straight up, 9-7 (147-67 season)

Best Bet: 6-9

Upset Special: 9-6

[Associated Press; By BARRY WILNER]

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