Tennessee Titans clinch 2021 AFC South title, headed to playoffs for third straight year

The Tennessee Titans are still king in the AFC South.

With the Colts falling to the Raiders 23-20 on Sunday, the Titans clinched their second straight division title. It marks the first time the franchise has won consecutive division crowns since it won three straight as the Houston Oilers from 1960-62.

Tennessee is headed to the playoffs for the third straight year and for the fourth time in five years.

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The Titans entered the day needing either a win over the Dolphins or a loss by the Colts to clinch. A few minutes after the Colts lost, the Titans beat the Dolphins 34-3 at Nissan Stadium.

After building a big cushion early in the season, the Titans saw their division lead threatened by their own struggles – Tennessee lost three of four from Weeks 11-15 – and a Colts team building confidence. But beating the 49ers last week put them in position to clinch Sunday.

The Titans remain in play for the AFC’s top seed and first-round bye.

Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at barthur@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans clinch second straight AFC South title