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: