NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans returned from the bye weekend on Monday, and they found themselves in a pretty good spot.
At 6-6, the Titans are tied atop the AFC South with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts with four games to play.
So what's the mindset?
"Get ready for Denver," Titans coach Mike Mularkey said after Monday's practice. "We've got a good football team coming in here. We got an extra day of work today, obviously. We can't control anything other than next Sunday against Denver, just like we were all off this week when Houston lost. We had nothing to do with that, and we have nothing to do with what happens tonight. We've got to take care of our business, and that's Denver."
The Titans face the defending Super Bowl champions on Sunday at Nissan Stadium before road games at Kansas City (9-3) and Jacksonville (2-10). The Titans will wrap up the season on January 1 against the Texans at Nissan Stadium.
The Titans, of course, would love for the final game to mean something.
Across the board, however, players said they aren't focusing on anyone but Denver.
"One game at a time,'' linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "Let's focus on Denver before we talk about the future. We don't want guys to get too far ahead of themselves and think, 'Hey, we're going to the playoffs and this and that.' Or, 'We're in first place.' We have to erase all that. We have one more quarter of the season left, a four-game stretch. Let's finish strong and we have Denver up next."
"We have four games left and I am not going to waste my time focusing on the future or the past,'' tackle Taylor Lewan said. "I am going to be as present as I can possibly be."
Cornerback Jason McCourty acknowledged it's nice to have something on the line in December, however.
The Titans finished 3-13 last season after a 2-14 finish in 2014.
"Obviously the last two years haven't been pretty, so to be a part of a situation where you are in it, it is exciting," McCourty said. "But you have to focus on the one in front of you. You have to focus because it can slip through your hands really fast."
TitansOnline.com looks back at Marcus Mariota's outstanding performance in November of 2016. (AP Photos)
