The comeback: : Even though the Titans started the 2006 season 0-5, Fisher found a silver lining and the team a new chemistry.
"Probably more important than the improvement of the talent level was the personality of this team," Fisher said. "For some reason, they really liked each other and kind of developed that sense of commitment to one another. We dug out of that 0-5 start, [and] were a quarter away from making the playoffs."
Last year the Titans went 10-6 to gain a wild-card berth before losing to the San Diego Chargers.
Bills (4-0)
The fall: : It has been nine years since the Bills made the playoffs, 14 since they last graced a Super Bowl. Since the Marv Levy coaching era closed after the 1997 season, Buffalo has gone through four coaches (Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey and Jauron) with only three winning seasons.
The changes: : Before stepping down as GM after the 2007 season, Levy put the Bills on the road back. Of his 16 draft picks in his two drafts (2006 and 2007), eight are starting and two more play key roles. Levy hit the jackpot in 2007 when he took running back Marshawn Lynch, linebacker Paul Posluszny and quarterback Trent Edwards in the first three rounds.
The Bills also helped themselves in free agency. Four of their five starters on the offensive line were signed as free agents, including Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, who was undrafted. Their biggest move this season was trading for defensive tackle Marcus Stroud.
The comeback: : Despite losing a franchise-record 17 players to injured reserve, and with Edwards starting nine of the final 13 games, the Bills finished a respectable 7-9 last season. This year, behind Edwards, they have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win the past three weeks.
Edwards' ability to deliver the comeback - and the confidence gained from doing it - has elevated the Bills to playoff contender. Said Ravens safety Jim Leonhard, who spent the previous three years in Buffalo: "We couldn't quite figure out how to win those close games last year, like a lot of NFL teams. It seems like they've figured it out now."
Ravens (2-1)
The fall: : After a 13-3 playoff season in 2006, the Ravens stumbled to 5-11 a year ago. They were limited by injuries, haunted by penalties (just five teams had more than their 107) and undermined by turnovers (their 40 giveaways were most in the NFL).
