• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Titans look to clinch AFC North title

Dec 2, 2008 - 6:32 PM Cleveland (4-8) at Tennessee (11-1), 1:00 pm, EST

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- With one more victory, the Tennessee Titans no longer will have to worry about the Indianapolis Colts in their rearview mirror - at least until the playoffs.

If the Titans win at home Sunday against the Cleveland Browns - who will be starting third-string quarterback Ken Dorsey - they will end the Colts' five-year stranglehold on the AFC South Division.

A victory will assure the Titans (11-1) of their first division title since 2002 and move them closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

"We're kind of in the driver's seat," Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "We can control what happens to us postseason-wise. We don't have to look around, hope other teams lose. All we have to do is take care of what's in front of us. The first step toward getting into the postseason would be winning this week."

The Colts have reeled off five straight wins but have been able to pick up only game on the Titans, who have a commanding three-game cushion in the division with only four remaining.

In 2007, Tennessee needed to beat Indianapolis in the final game of the season just to get into the playoffs as a wild card.

After the Titans' run at perfection ended with a 34-13 loss to New York Jets on November 23, they had no trouble rebounding from their first loss of the season on Thanksgiving.

Tennessee also had the good fortune to face the winless Detroit Lions and rolled to a 47-10 victory, giving the Titans their best 12-game record in franchise history.

After rushing for only 45 yards against the Jets, the Titans ran over the Lions for 292 yards, with rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White each surpassing the century mark.

Tennessee will be facing another team in disarray, as the Browns (4-8) lost their second quarterback in as many weeks in a 10-6 loss to the Colts.

Derek Anderson, back in as the Browns' starter with Brady Quinn out for the season with a broken finger, also will miss the remainder of the year after tearing a ligament in his left knee.

The Browns are forced to go with Dorsey, who has not started since 2005 with the San Francisco 49ers. Dorsey replaced Anderson on the Browns' final series last week, but was 0-for-3, including an interception on 4th-and-20.

The Titans beat Dorsey and the 49ers, 33-22, in Week 12 of the 2005 campaign, but Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher is not taking anything for granted.

"(Dorsey) knew exactly where to go with the football," Fisher said. "He saw the play. When you're getting rushed by the Colts at the end of third-and-20, you have to have a chance to make a play. I've seen many quarterbacks on fourth-and-20 take a sack or throw the ball away. He gave them a chance to make a play so I'm being very realistic, not complimentary."

Still, the Browns have not scored a touchdown in their last two games.