The Tennessee Titans are riding a resurgent Ryan Fitzpatrick back into the AFC playoff picture.
Fitzpatrick threw for 320 yards and two scores, including the go-ahead 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kendall Wright with 10 seconds to play, lifting the Titans to a 23-19 win over the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on Sunday.
The win moves the Titans to 5-6, making them one of six AFC teams tied for the final playoff spot with five weeks to go. It's a tasty stew of mediocrity.
Here's what else we learned:
- We wrote earlier this month that Fitzpatrick could keep the Titans in the playoff hunt with his ability to get hot. That's exactly what he's doing right now, and it's kept Tennessee relevant. Fitzpatrick was in complete control during Tennessee's game-winning march, completing eight of 10 passes for 67 yards and the scoring throw to Wright. This is the Fitzmagic the Buffalo Bills thought they were paying for.
- Raiders quarterback Matt McGloin did more than enough to keep him ahead of Terrelle Pryor on the depth chart. Coach Dennis Allen said after the game that the rookie "earned another start" after completing 19 of 32 passes for 260 yards with a touchdown and an interception. McGloin's 27-yard touchdown pass to fullback Marcel Reece with 6:10 to play was a thing of beauty.
- Kenny Britt has drifted into the deep abyss, but the cupboard remains full for the Titans at wide receiver. Both Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright went over 100 yards on the day. Hunter was particularly impressive, putting the clown suit on Brandian Ross and Phillip Adams during his 54-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
- Is Seabass slipping? Sebastian Janikowski missed field-goal attempts from 32 and 48 yards, especially costly in a game the Raiders lost by four points. At 35, it's certainly possible Janikowski is in decline in his 14th season. Of course, he's also coming off the best season of his long career, so who knows.
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