The Tennessee Titans have joined the ranks of the respectable teams in the NFL through the first three quarters of the season.Now they have a chance to earn a playoff spot if they can execute effectively over the final three games. The Titans are tied with the Houston Texans atop the AFC South, as both teams have 7-6 records. The Texans technically have the lead because they beat the Titans earlier in the year. The two teams are scheduled to meet in the season finale at Tennessee.Prior to that game, the Titans have back-to-back road games with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Jacksonville Jaguars. While the Jaguars don't figure to cause much of a problem, beating the Chiefs on the road will be the Titans' biggest challenge to this point in the season.The Chiefs are 10-3, and they are a veteran team that does not make many mistakes with head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Alex Smith. The Chiefs tend to play a conservative game, and that leads to winning football.Smith is completing 67.3 percent of his passes and has a 12-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While 12 scoring passes are not impressive for this time of year, the five interceptions indicate that Smith is not going to put his team at risk.He is content to take what the defense gives him and let his defense make key plays that decide the game. That defense features Dee Ford (10 sacks), Justin Houston (four sacks and one forced fumble in four games), Marcus Peters (five interceptions and 22 passes defensed) and Eric Berry (three interceptions, two for touchdowns).The stats may say the Chiefs have the27th-ranked defense in yards allowed, but any team that takes them lightly will pay a big price.The Chiefs have been installed as a five-point favorite at Arrowhead Stadium, according to OddsShark.However, if the Titans can avoid the intimidation factor at one of the NFL's loudest stadiums, they have an excellent chance to compete with the Chiefs for 60 minutes.Marcus Mariota seems to be improving every week, and he has an impressive 25-8 TD-INT ratio. Wide receiver Rishard Matthews and tight endDelanie Walker have combined for 13 touchdown receptions, and they are both big-play makers.Running back DeMarco Murray has had an excellent first season in Tennessee, rushing for 1,135 yards with a 4.5 yards-per-carry mark and nine touchdowns.These offensive weapons should allow the Titans to stay close. They may not win the game, but they should stay within the number. This game will likely be decided by a late field goal.Take the points and bet the Titans to cover. Detroit at N.Y. GiantsThe Detroit Lions have been one of the most impressive teams in the NFL, as they own a two-game lead in the NFC North with a 9-4 record.The Giants have the same mark, and they can boast of a 2-0 record against the Dallas Cowboys. Those are the only two defeats that the Cowboys have suffered this season.These two teams face off in what should be a stellar game at MetLife Stadium, and the Giants are favored by four points.Based on what happened in Week 14, that line seems fair. The Lions had to hold on by the skin of their teeth to beat the Chicago Bears, while the Giants played stellar defense in their 10-7 victory over the Cowboys.However, based on the way the two teams have played throughout the year, this game appears to be a toss-up. Additionally, the Lions appear to have the edge at quarterback with Matthew Stafford making clutch plays nearly every week and Eli Manning having a hard time holding onto the football and hitting open receivers.The visiting team is 7-2 straight up and 8-1 against the spread in this series, according to OddsShark. We think that's a trend that matters. Look for the Lions to get the cover and the road win over the Giants, who may still be celebrating their season sweep of the Cowboys. Oakland at San DiegoThe Oakland Raiders have had time to think about their Week 14 loss to the Chiefs on the road last Thursday night.Don't expect Jack Del Rio's team to feel sorry for itself as it plays another division road game against the San Diego Chargers.These two teams have battled each other in a physical manner for years, and that kind of game can be expected here. Derek Carr and the Raiders are three-point favorites at San Diego, and that should play right into the hands of Raiders backers.The Chargers are feisty, and they have Philip Rivers at quarterback. They should keep this game close for three quarters, but Rivers has had the tendency to throw the ball into harm's way. He has been guilty of throwing interceptions in the fourth quarter, and that will likely happen again here.Even if it doesn't, San Diego's lack of depth means that it will eventually wear down. The Raiders will pull away in the fourth quarter and win by double digits. Prop BetThe New England Patriots may have the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs heading into Week 15, but they don't have tight end Rob Gronkowski, and they won't have him the rest of the way.Gronkowski suffered a back injury and underwent surgery, and the superstar has a long road to recovery.OddsSharkis offering a couple of prop bets on Gronkowski for the 2017 season. One of those is whether Gronkowski will remain a Patriot next year. Head coach Bill Belichick is known for getting rid of players a year early rather than a year late, so that's why an argument for this bet can be made.However, we believe that Gronkowski is too good for the Pats to risk trading him. The odds are minus-2,000 that he will remain with New England and plus-1,000 that he will wear any other team's uniform.We are not willing to risk $2,000 to win $100, so we will pass.The other wager involving the powerful tight end is whether he will be healthy enough to suit up in 10.5 games or more next year. Bettors must risk $150 to win $100 if they believe he will, while a bet of $100 on the under will return $120.Gronkowski's bad luck has to end sooner or later, and we say sooner. Take the over 10.5 and risk $150 to win $100.
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