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When the Titans started 10-0, a lot of people outside of Nashville kept wondering whether they could go unbeaten.

Coach Jeff Fisher and Tennessee's players never worried about that. They enjoyed the ride, knowing adversity would sometimes follow.

Well, the Titans are finally dealing with adversity, but, like they did with success, they won't overreact. They've lost two of their past four games and will go into season-ending games against the Steelers on Sunday and the Colts in Week 17 without their two best defensive players, tackle Albert Haynesworth (knee) and end Kyle Vanden Bosch (groin).

Both are expected back for the playoffs, but they will be missed against the Steelers in a battle for the AFC's No. 1 seed. The loss of Haynesworth changes a lot. During his career, the Titans have held teams to 17.8 points a game, 104.2 rushing yards and 4 yards per carry when Haynesworth has been on the field. In the eight games he's missed in his career, the Titans have given up an average of 27.4 points, 141.3 rushing yards and 4.7 yards per carry. Without Vanden Bosch, the Titans are without a leader and one of the best hustling pass-rushers in the game.

"They were in the Pro Bowl last year, they're good players,'' Fisher said. "But we've played some games where we've been without them and we've been OK. I thought William Hayes played well in [Week 15]. We've got depth there. Jacob Ford is getting his sacks and we know what Dave Ball can do and we've got Jason Jones back and Jason played well [in Week 15], so we're in good shape.''

Fisher is a master of keeping a team focused. He knows the Titans aren't as scary on defense without Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch, but his team does have depth. On the other side, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can't allow Pittsburgh's offense to rejoice too much and get overconfident just because the Titans aren't as fierce on the defensive line.

"Well, all big guys in the interior defense get double-teamed,'' Tomlin said. "That's just the reality of today's NFL. Whoever's playing in place of Hayneswoth is going to get doubled some. That's the nature of it. I'm not trying to lessen the impact of what that guy is. He's a Pro Bowl player. But by no means am I going to be disrespectful to the guy suiting up and playing for him this weekend. I know that their expectations in terms of love of play won't change.''

Neither team can afford to overlook any aspect of this game because there is a chance they will meet again soon. Both teams have secured first-round playoff byes, so they are each one victory away from a championship battle. The results of this game could determine whether the AFC title game will be in Nashville or Pittsburgh.

There is another reason Fisher can't let his team get depressed about Haynesworth's absence. By being selected to the Pro Bowl this week, Haynesworth triggered a clause in his contract that forbids the Titans from giving him the franchise tag. If the Titans can't sign him before March, Haynesworth will be one of the top free agents and the Titans might have to figure out what life would be like without him.

But that's a problem for next year. Fisher is focused on what is the Titans' most important game of the season.

1. Carolina Panthers at New York Giants: The Giants have lost two in a row, but they haven't lost their confidence. Still, they need a win to secure home-field advantage in the playoffs. Really, all of the pressure is on the Panthers in this game. Last season, the Giants established they could go on the road and win big games. They won three playoffs games and the Super Bowl on the road.

The Panthers are a 3-3 road team, so you can argue that their Super Bowl hopes hinge on securing home-field advantage. Although they have a couple of banged-up players, the Panthers know this is their best chance to beat the Giants. They might not be as healthy if they face New York in the playoffs.

2. Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys: Terrell Owens feels as though he's being picked on by the national press because of his past, but the past may come back to haunt him Saturday night. The Ravens visit Texas Stadium and they remember how Owens voided his trade to Baltimore in 2004. Because Owens and the Cowboys stand in the way of a possible trip to the playoffs, the Ravens' defense will play with extra fire. These teams haven't met since 2004, so Owens is the only emotional link in this game. The Cowboys bounced back from the latest Owens controversy with a 20-8 victory over the Giants in Week 15. All of Owens' whining about not getting the football netted him only three receptions. He'll be calling for the ball in this one too, and the Ravens would love to deliver an extra greeting for him when he catches it.

3. Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings looked like champions in a blowout victory over the Cardinals in Week 15, but they need to close the deal on the NFC North. A victory over the Falcons would give Minnesota 10 wins and most likely the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. But this won't be easy. The Falcons continue to grow with Matt Ryan at quarterback and Michael Turner being the workhorse running back. Vikings coach Brad Childress announced Tarvaris Jackson will be the starting quarterback, replacing Gus Frerotte. The Vikings' defensive line must adjust without defensive tackle Pat Williams, who is out until the playoffs with a broken scapula.

4. Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins: Redskins coach Jim Zorn has had some time to reflect on his comment that he felt like the worst coach in America after Washington's Week 15 loss to the Bengals. He needs a good performance against the Eagles to make sure owner Dan Snyder doesn't agree with him. Zorn's offense has gone in the tank. The Skins have scored 66 points in the past six games, an 11-point average that must alarm Snyder and the organization. Running back Clinton Portis called out Zorn last week.

In the meantime, Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has won three consecutive games since being benched and Philadelphia's offense is averaging 32.6 points a game in that time. McNabb has won eight of his last 11 starts against the Redskins and is 5-1 in Washington.

5. Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: Mike Shanahan won't win coach of the year, but he's doing one of his finest jobs on the sidelines. The Broncos have fought as much adversity as any team in the league. Shanahan has lost six running backs because of injuries. His defense has started as many as five rookies, although it is slowly getting healthier. Every game is an adventure because the Broncos' defense allows quarterbacks to complete 66.9 percent of their passes and a 96.3 rating. Cornerback Champ Bailey, the team's best defensive player, has missed seven games and there is no guarantee he will play against the Bills. With all of that said, the Broncos need only to win this game to lock up a playoff spot. Incredible.

6. Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots: The Cardinals have won the NFC West, but they aren't playing like division champions. They looked disinterested in last week's 35-14 loss to the Vikings. The Cardinals haven't beaten a winning team since their Oct. 12 home victory over the Cowboys, a team they could face in the first round of the playoffs. The Cardinals haven't beaten a winning team on the road this season and this game against the Patriots should be particularly tough. Arizona has become a one-dimensional passing team. If QB Kurt Warner doesn't fare well in the New England weather -- the forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of snow -- the Cards will return home needing to beat the Seahawks in Week 17 to have a winning season.

7. San Diego Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFL didn't give the Chargers a break. NBC said no to a pre-scheduled Chargers-Bucs game and flexed out for Panthers-Giants in prime time. Good move for NBC. Bad move for the Chargers because now they have to play at 1 p.m. ET, which is 10 a.m. on their body clocks. West Coast teams are 1-15 after traveling three time zones to the East Coast. The Chargers need a lot of breaks to make an improbable run to the playoffs. A win over the Bucs means nothing if the Broncos beat the Bills. The Chargers can't even scoreboard watch because the Broncos will be playing while the Chargers are flying back home to San Diego.

8. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears: This Monday night game could be meaningless if the Vikings beat the Falcons and clinch the NFC North. Still, Packers-Bears is one of the great rivalries in the sport. Chicago coach Lovie Smith is 6-3 all time against the Packers and would love to make sure the Bears (8-6) at least have a winning season. Home field means a lot to the Bears. Kyle Orton is a different quarterback at Soldier Field, where he is 14-2.

9. New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks: There will be a lot of emotion at Qwest Field for Mike Holmgren's final home game as Seahawks coach. That Holmgren is facing his former quarterback, Brett Favre, only adds to the emotion. Favre needs this victory to stay in the AFC East race. A loss to Holmgren could cost the Jets and Favre a trip to the playoffs and may finalize Favre's thoughts of retirement again. The Jets are 0-3 on the West Coast. Holmgren has lost all five starters on his offensive line and goes into the game with backup Seneca Wallace at QB. Still, he'd like to give Seahawks fans a nice goodbye with a victory.

10. Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs: Chad Pennington for MVP? It can be argued that the acquisition of Pennington has been the biggest reason the Dolphins are in contention. Favre has created at least a five-game improvement with the Jets, but Pennington has been remarkable. He's one of the best in the league at getting passing yards on first down. The Dolphins have a chance to go from 1-15 to 10 victories if they can beat the Chiefs, and Pennington is on pace to become the first Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino in 1997 to pass for more than 3,500 yards.

The departure of GM Carl Peterson at the end of the season means Chiefs coach Herman Edwards' job is in jeopardy. The new GM will decide Edwards' fate. What Edwards has to wonder is if the Chiefs should've signed Pennington instead of putting their faith in Brodie Croyle. Edwards and Pennington went to the playoffs three times with the Jets.

John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.