Tennessee @ Denver preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2011 ) Denver 14, Tennessee 17

The Denver Broncos have a chance to celebrate head coach John Fox's return to the sideline by clinching a playoff berth when they host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. A victory or tie would wrap up a postseason slot for Denver, which is 3-1 since Fox underwent surgery to replace a heart valve and has assumed control of the AFC West by beating Kansas City twice in the last three weeks. The Titans are desperate for a victory, trailing Baltimore and Miami by one game for the AFC's sixth seed.

Denver could be primed for a letdown if not for the return of Fox - sandwiching the two wins over Kansas City around a loss at New England that put the team in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall seed. Weather could be a factor in the game, with temperatures expected to be in the teens - conditions in which Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has struggled throughout his career. "We're going to have plenty of opportunities to practice in the weather this week," Fox said. "'Arctic blast' has kind of a unique sound to it."

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -12. O/U: 48.5.

ABOUT THE TITANS (5-7): Tennessee, which is playing its third straight road game, had its AFC South title hopes all but dashed in last week's 22-14 loss at Indianapolis and has little margin for error in the clustered playoff race. The Titans will need a big game out of running back Chris Johnson - who has only one 100-yard game this season - to keep the ball out of the hands of Manning, and they wouldn't mind some frigid conditions. "A team that scores as many points as they do, you would think that may have an effect and slow them down a tad," Tennessee coach Mike Munchak said.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (10-2): Manning carved up the Chiefs for 403 yards and five touchdown passes - four to Eric Decker - in last week's come-from-behind victory, pushing his season totals to 41 scoring passes against only nine interceptions. Knowshon Moreno has been a dual threat out of the backfield all season but rookie Montee Ball provided another boost to the offense by rushing for 117 yards last week. Denver's pass defense is ranked 29th with an average of 284 yards allowed, but part of that is due to the opposition trying to keep pace with an offense that is putting up a staggering 38.7 points.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Manning's 4,125 yards are the most by any QB over the first 12 games of a season.

2. Johnson needs two rushing touchdowns to become the third back in franchise history to reach 50.

3. Decker is 29 yards shy of his second straight 1,000-yard season.

PREDICTION: Broncos 34, Titans 17