New York @ Tennessee preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2017 ) Tennessee 3, N.Y. Jets 7

The Tennessee Titans are going to have to take advantage of a stretch run filled with home games if they're to remain in the AFC playoff picture. Coming off damaging back-to-back road losses, the Titans begin that stretch Sunday when they host the sliding New York Jets.

Tennessee is 3-1 at home, including an impressive 34-10 triumph over New England on Nov. 11 that put the team at 5-4, and it plays four of its final five in downtown Nashville. "We get to go back to Nissan Stadium," cornerback Logan Ryan told reporters. "We have the pieces, and we know we are going back home and have to execute. Our season is on the line in a sense. We need to win this game. That's all that matters. You're going to see how much we care based on how we play. That's my mentality." The Jets have lost five straight by a combined score of 142-56, including last Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Patriots. Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold (foot) has practiced for the first time in weeks and could return for this one.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Titans -8. O/U: 40.5

ABOUT THE JETS (3-8): Josh McCown has completed just 54.4 percent of his passes with one touchdown and three interceptions in two games filling in for Darnold, and the veteran is also hampered by back and hand injuries. "I mean, yeah," Darnold told the media when asked if he's pushing to start this week. "I want to play really bad. But at the same time, I understand it's a process." The Jets lead the AFC with 17 interceptions -- including four by Darnold in his last game Nov. 4 at Miami -- and the passers get little support from a running game that has averaged 77.5 yards per game since its out-of-nowhere 323-yard effort in a win over Denver on Oct. 7.

ABOUT THE TITANS (5-6): With two home games in a span of five days (Jacksonville pays a visit Thursday night), Tennessee is eager to set a tone in front of the home fans. "The goal is you don't get down against the Jets," said coach Mike Vrabel, who saw his team start strong and never look back in the rout of the Patriots. "If we start fast, which I hope we do and continue on that path with a lead and try to keep it so we can control the game. We will try to start fast and execute early and play complementary. We have to play hard and give our fans something to cheer about." Of course, that didn't pay dividends when the Titans lost an early 10-0 lead in last week's 34-17 loss to Houston, a result that came in spite of Marcus Mariota completing 22-of-23 passes for 303 yards and two scores.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mariota, who has been limited in practice due to a neck issue, was sacked 29 times over the last six games.

2. New York is 29th in the league with 199 passing yards per game. Tennessee is 30th (191).

3. The Jets have won seven of 10 meetings since the Tennessee franchise moved from Houston to Nashville prior to the 1997 season.

PREDICTION: Titans 27, Jets 16