Power Rankings: Titans rise from depths to push for playoffs

Updated Dec. 1

They took a worse beating than Tiger Woods' reputation.

The Tennessee Titans had just lost 59-0 to the New England Patriots in the snow to drop to 0-6. Then running back Chris Johnson decided to make a brash prediction that certainly didn't seem as bright as his permanent (they are; I asked) gold teeth. This was a Titans team that some said quit that day in New England, yet Johnson said the Titans would make the playoffs. Almost guaranteed it.

We all laughed.

Don't laugh now.

The Titans have ripped off five consecutive victories to put themselves in the playoff picture. The way teams in the wild-card hunt are losing, the Titans might not even need to win the rest of their games to get into the playoff party.

Credit Bud Adams, the owner known recently more for his one-fingered peace sign to Buffalo Bills fans and a bad haircut than his football acumen. Adams made the coaching staff bench Kerry Collins and play Vince Young.

All Young has done is play impressive football to lead the Titans back into the postseason chase.

I have to admit I was a skeptic about whether he could do it, even though I still thought it was the right move to play him. What did they have to lose? Collins was an aging player who wasn't performing. Young was a former first-round pick who flopped earlier, but they had to find out if there was anything left. Either he did it, or they would have to draft a passer next spring.

They won't be doing that now.

Young threw for a career-high 387 yards and engineered a 99-yard drive to the game-winning touchdown pass on the final play to beat Arizona on Sunday. He was poised, confident, accurate and composed in the pocket, all the things he wasn't the last time he was a starter for the Titans.

This Vince Young cares. The other one didn't.

It's amazing what putting in the work can do. Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger is one of the best in football. He can be tough to take for a player, especially one with a thin skin. He also demands a work ethic, which Young didn't have early in his career. Remember when Heimerdinger was hired and Young decided to go to school in Austin instead of staying around to learn the new offense?

Young is working now. And it appears that Heimerdinger has accepted Young for who he is, and in the process has helped massage him into an improved passer who no longer takes off at the first sign of pressure. He's actually making progression reads.

The Titans have to go to Indianapolis this week, which is a tough game against the 11-0 Colts. But after that the schedule is favorable. They play three straight at home against St. Louis, Miami and San Diego and close at Seattle.

Ripping off 10 consecutive victories doesn't seem so far-fetched anymore -- if they can beat the Colts.

The Titans are up to No. 17 in the CBSSports.com Power Rankings, which might not seem so high considering their lofty expectations before the season. But let's not forget they were at the bottom five weeks ago.

We were all thinking they quit. We were saying they were done.

Now look.

Tiger Woods can only hope his reputation bounces back just as quick. If he can stay out of the tabloids, that is.

The Power Rankings after Week 12:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Saints · Trends	4
	What is hidden about the Saints is that there are a lot of good, young players on their roster. I can't imagine them taking a big step back.
	2	Colts · Trends	1
	Let's not forget they get Anthony Gonzalez back next year, which will make the offense better. They are the team to beat in the AFC again.
	3	Vikings · Trends	5
	After blowing a chance to win the NFC title game in regulation, it must have killed the Vikings to see the Saints win the Super Bowl. Now Minnesota has to play the waiting game with Brett Favre.
	4	Chargers · Trends	2
	They have a lot of contracts that come up, and they will have to make some tough decisions. There is still a lot of talent on this team, but they have to get over the hump at some point. Losing to the Jets was a big upset.
	5	Cowboys · Trends	3
	Wade Phillips comes back for another year, and he has to get this team past the first round of the playoffs again. Tony Romo is in the same situation.
	6	Eagles · Trends	6
	Can we stop the Donovan McNabb trade talk? He will be back, and he should be back. Will Brian Westbrook?
	7	Jets · Trends	11
	The next step will be letting Mark Sanchez do more. They have to throw it better in 2010. And they will.
	8	Packers · Trends	7
	Aaron Rodgers showed he's a star in the making this season. That will make Green Bay a Super threat in 2010.
	9	Bengals · Trends	8
	They made big strides to win the division, but they have to improve the passing game. That means getting speed help outside.
	10	Ravens · Trends	12
	It's time for Joe Flacco and that passing game to take a big step forward. You have to get big chunks of yardage to win in this league.
	11	Patriots · Trends	10
	Tom Brady will be a year removed from his knee injury, which means he will be better. The key for the Patriots will be improving their pass rush.
	12	Cardinals · Trends	9
	Matt Leinart takes over for the retired Kurt Warner. There are a lot of questions about the former Heisman winner, but the Cardinals staff believes in him. Do his teammates?
	13	Broncos · Trends	13
	What do they do with Brandon Marshall? Is he back? Is he traded? They need him, that's for sure.
	14	Steelers · Trends	14
	The concerns with this team are on both lines. They have to play better there. Isn't that the Steelers way?
	15	Texans · Trends	15
	They had a winning season, but it's time to make the playoffs. They do have an explosive passing game, which gives them a good chance.
	16	Falcons · Trends	16
	They played the Saints tough twice with a lot of injuries. That has to give them hope heading into next season. They have to work on fixing that defense.
	17	Giants · Trends	20
	There is some talk that Tom Coughlin could be in trouble if he doesn't win next season. I don't buy it. But they do have to improve the defense.
	18	Titans · Trends	17
	Vince Young played well when he took over. Now he has to show he can do it again.
	19	Dolphins · Trends	18
	I think this is a team to watch in 2010. Chad Henne will give the Dolphins a better chance to get to a Super Bowl. He does need a receiver.
	20	49ers · Trends	19
	The Niners have talent, but they have to throw it better to be a playoff team. I think Alex Smith just might be the answer. The offensive line needs fixing.
	21	Jaguars · Trends	21
	Jack Del Rio got another year, which some question. Does his quarterback get the same?
	22	Panthers · Trends	22
	They have to decide who plays quarterback. Is it Matt Moore or Jake Delhomme? It should be Moore. What to do with Julius Peppers?
	23	Redskins · Trends	23
	Mike Shanahan has to decide if Jason Campbell is his quarterback of choice. I bet he decides that he is. Hiring Jim Haslett was a good move for the defense.
	24	Bears · Trends	24
	Lovie Smith has one year to show that he can turn this team around. Hiring Mike Martz as offensive coordinator is a great move.
	25	Seahawks · Trends	25
	Pete Carroll has a long way to go to turn this team around. First decision is if Matt Hasselbeck is the right guy at quarterback.
	26	Bills · Trends	26
	Is Chan Gailey the right choice? Let's put it this way: His hiring was a surprise. He does know offense.
	27	Chiefs · Trends	28
	You can bet the first priority is trying to improve that offensive line. Matt Cassel took a beating.
	28	Browns · Trends	27
	Eric Mangini gets another year, and he probably earned it late. Can Mike Holmgren turn this team around? He has a lot of work to do.
	29	Buccaneers · Trends	30
	Raheem Morris gets another year and his team should be better just because Josh Freeman will be better. Hey, they did beat the Saints late in the season.
	30	Raiders · Trends	29
	Tom Cable is back. Is that a good thing? Who knows? If they don't fix the quarterback position, does it matter?
	31	Lions · Trends	31
	It's all about improving the defense. They need pass-rush help in the worst way. They are another year away from competing -- at least.
	32	Rams · Trends	32
	They have a huge decision at the top of the draft: Do they take a quarterback or do they solve that by acquiring Michael Vick? We'll see.