Strategic keys to all meaningful Week 17 games

(This week, just games with playoff implications.)

Tennessee at Indianapolis

Titans' Game Plan

Vince Young and the Titans control their own playoff destiny when the play the Colts. Al Pereira/Getty Images

• Use the screen game. The Colts will use an assortment of eight-man fronts to bottle up Vince Young and the Titans' fifth-ranked rush offense. But the added attention to the running game leaves Indy vulnerable to Tennessee's screen game. Look for Young to get the ball quickly to Roydell Williams and Justin Gage on bubble screens to take advantage of the soft coverage outside.

• Diversify the runs. Despite the zone-based running scheme effectively working against most defenses, the Colts' rush defense will stack the line on early downs with an extra defender in the box (Bob Sanders). To counter the eight-man front, Tennessee coordinator Norm Chow to spread the field to create bigger running lanes. Expect to call more runs from their three-receiver, shotgun sets to take advantage of the Colts' nickel package.

• Pressure with four. With Albert Haynesworth in the middle, the Titans have the luxury of pressuring offenses without blitzing, which allows them to drop seven or eight defenders into coverage. If the Titans are able to successfully pressure without the blitz, they should be able to limit the Colts' big play opportunities.

Colts' Game Plan

• Get off to a quick start. Indianapolis is only planning to play its starters for a few series, so it is imperative for their offense to get off to a quick start. Expect the Colts to take their shots down the field in the first quarter to put the Titans in an early hole.

• Play fast. The Titans' rushing attack poses huge challenges for the Colts' undersized defense. But the Colts' speed and quickness often nullifies physical running games by creating consistent penetration at the point of attack. If the Colts' defensive line can win with their athleticism in the trenches, they can squeeze LenDale White and Chris Brown's running lanes.

• Make Vince Young win from the pocket. Young hasn't yet developed into an efficient enough passer to carry the Titans' offense with his right arm. Therefore, expect the Colts to use Sanders as a spy to keep Young confined to the pocket.

Scout's Take: The Colts will jump out to a quick start with their starters in the game, but Young has a knack for winning big games and will do enough for the Titans to win a close one.

New Orleans at Chicago

Saints' Game Plan

• Maintain balance. Despite the Bears' dominant defensive performance against the Packers last week, they allowed Ryan Grant to become the fifth back to gain over 100 yards on the ground this season. With New Orleans RB Aaron Stecker going over the century mark twice in the past three games, look for coach Sean Payton to turn to the power running game.

• Stop the run. Chicago running back Adrian Peterson's big day (30 rushes for 102 yards and a touchdown) allowed the Bears to win with a conservative, one-dimensional game plan against the Packers. Look for Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs to take away Chicago's ground attack by using more eight-man fronts and blitzes. If the Saints can stop the run early, they should be able to put pressure on Kyle Orton in the passing game.

• Win on special teams. The Saints' special teams units must win their matchup against the Bears' dynamic return teams. Not only must they limit Devin Hester's impact in the return game, they also must do an exceptional job of preventing the Bears from blocking punts from off the corner. With the Bears struggling to score offensively, the Saints can ill afford to give away points.

Bears' Game Plan

• Run up the gut. The Bears rediscovered their running game by pounding the Peterson relentlessly between the tackles. Facing a Saints' rushing defense that has surrendered over 100 yards in consecutive games, look for Peterson to get plenty of carries on an assortment of leads and powers.

• Throw deep. The Saints' secondary has been victimized repeatedly by big plays (a league-leading 14 passes allowed over 40 yards) and is entering the game without their top corner, Mike McKenzie, out because of an injury. Look for the Bears to attack the Saints' vulnerable secondary by taking shots down the field to Bernard Berrian off play-action.

• Knock 'em around. The Saints' third-ranked passing offense will test the Bears' defense by using an assortment of quick rhythm throws to Marques Coltson and David Patten. Look Chicago to take the short throws away by using more press coverage out of its two-deep and blitz-man schemes. By getting jams at the line, the Bears will disrupt the timing of the Saints' quick passing game and buy time for Adewale Ogunleye and Mark Anderson to get pressure off the edges.

Scout's Take: The Bears' defense and special teams continue to play well down the stretch and they will snuff out the Saints' flickering playoff hopes.

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