Tennessee Titans prepare for crucial stretch as playoff race heats up as the Tennessee Titans move deeper into the NFL season they are facing a pivotal stretch of games that could determine their playoff fate currently sitting at a challenging spot in the AFC standings the Titans are pushing to secure a postseason birth amidst a competitive field Ryan Tan Hill's status in question veteran quarterback Ryan tanah Hill has been leading the offense but his performance this season has been uneven additionally tanah Hill has been dealing with nagging injuries that have impacted his mobility and overall effectiveness head coach Mike Vel has not yet indicated whether rookie quarterback will Levis will see more playing time but fans are keeping a close eye on the situation as the team prepares for key matchups derck Henry's continued impact running back Derrick Henry continues to be the engine that powers the Titans offense Henry is once again among the league leaders in rushing yards and has been a critical factor in keeping Tennessee competitive in games however with defenses keying in on Henry the Titans will need a more balanced offensive attack to keep opposing teams off balance defense faces injuries the Titans defense has been hit hard by injuries with key players such as defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons and linebacker Herold Landry missing time the lack of a consistent pass rush has been an issue for Tennessee and defensive coord coordinator Shane Bowen is working to adjust schemes to compensate for the losses the secondary has also faced challenges particularly against high-powered passing attacks upcoming schedule looking ahead the Titans have a challenging schedule with several matchups against division Rivals and other Playoff hopefuls these games will be critical for Tennessee's postseason Chances with the AFC playoff picture still in flux every win counts team Outlook despite the challenge the Titans remain confident in their ability R for playoff