NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the second consecutive season, the Tennessee Titans' playoff dreams will be decided by the Jacksonville Jaguars. A few Titans laughed at the irony of that happenstance because it's not going to be an AFC South championship game, but it could end up in their benefit regardless.

"That's what it's going to be, right? They gonna decide if we get in or not," Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said with a wide smile. "We gotta make [sure] we don't let them spoil it once again.

"We took care of them once. We got to make sure we do it again."

The Titans' playoff scenarios are clear: win and you're in. Don't worry about what Buffalo, Baltimore or the Los Angeles Chargers do. It's the easy route for a team that has done everything possible to give away once-comfortable 8-4 playoff positioning during their current three-game losing streak. But because of the struggles of AFC teams around them, they're in with a victory and they could still get in with a loss if the Bills and Chargers also lose.

"That's all you could ever ask, you just want a chance. You just want an opportunity," quarterback Marcus Mariota said. "We let one slip away, we let kind of three in a row slip away. But, all you can really ask for is an opportunity. I look forward to getting back to work and doing our best to hopefully get this one."

Mariota remembers the Jacksonville nightmare well. It was on Christmas Eve in Jacksonville last season that he broke his right leg. The Titans also saw their playoff and AFC South championship chances die that night.

Now the Titans get a chance for redemption.

"That's why we not sweating it right now. We got a chance," Casey said. "These three games have been a bummer, but once we get in those playoffs everybody is going to love us. That's what it's all about -- getting to the playoffs. Once we get in there, we know we can make a push."

The Titans might get a huge break in that the Jaguars, who fell to 10-5 with a loss to the 49ers on Sunday night, likely will have nothing to play for. If the Steelers beat the Texans on Monday night as expected, the Steelers will clinch a first-round bye and ensure Jacksonville will host a game on wild-card weekend. The Chiefs are already locked in the No. 4 seed, meaning the Jaguars will be the No. 3 if the Steelers win another game.

To make matters even more interesting, a Titans victory over the Jaguars, paired with a Ravens victory over Bengals, would have Tennessee travel to Jacksonville in the wild-card round of the playoffs.