NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- In what many expected to be a possible Super Bowl preview at the start of the season, the Tennessee Titans are the only ones heading the playoffs heading into Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Titans have lived up to their billing and still are holding out hopes of winning the AFC South Division title. But in order to overtake Indianapolis in the division, the Titans need a win here and for the Colts to lose at Houston.
It has been a different story for the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, who were eliminated from playoff contention.
One of the NFL's toughest quarterbacks, Tennessee's Steve McNair will get a crack at one of the hardest-hitting defenses in the league in Tampa Bay.
McNair returned after missing one game with a cracked bone spur in his left ankle and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Drew Bennett on a 4th-and-10 play as the Titans rallied for a 27-24 victory over the Texans last Sunday.
One of the leading candidates for MVP and a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career, McNair has thrown fror 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions this season.
The Buccaneers were eliminated from postseason contention last Saturday with a 30-28 loss to Atlanta. Brad Johnson threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter as the Bucs nearly rallied from a 23-point deficit.
Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who is in the final year of his contract, could be playing his final game for the club. Named to his seventh Pro Bowl last week, Sapp has five sacks in 14 games this season.
Tennessee leads the series, 6-1.
