Jim Wyatt

jwyatt@tennessean.com

The Titans and Jaguars square off Thursday night on national television, but how many folks will be watching?

After all, both teams are 2-12 and headed nowhere.

And Miracle on 34th Street is on at the same time on another channel. No kidding.

Still, it would be inaccurate to say Titans fans aren't interested in the results, because there's still plenty on the line during the final two weeks of the season.

Not all Titans fans want the team to leave Jacksonville with a win, however. Some are hoping, and not-so-secretly, for a loss. There will be similar mixed feelings in the season finale against the Colts, too.

Here's a look at what's at stake, including three reasons why fans should want the Titans to win, along with three legitimate reasons why some fans think it's OK to ditch their loyalty for a few weeks.

Root for a win, because …

•It would lift the spirits of the beaten-down team.

The Titans have lost eight straight games and 12 of the past 13.

Yeah, it's been a long and painful season for fans, but players and coaches are feeling it more than anyone. Week after week they're putting in the time and working for a win. The team just simply isn't any good.

A win over the Jaguars would change the mood in the building, at least for a week. Back-to-back wins to close the season would give the Titans something to feel good about heading into the offseason, while also providing some optimism for the Ken Whisenhunt era moving forward.

• Stay out of the cellar.

It's been a brutal season, there's no getting around it.

But a win would at least keep the Titans from sinking to a place they haven't been in a while — alone in last place in the AFC South.

It's true. The Titans haven't finished dead last in the AFC South since 2004, when they turned in a 5-11 record. The Texans, at 7-9, were third that season.

The Titans finished 6-10 in 2010 — the same record as the last-place Texans. But one could make a case they technically tied for third place behind the Jaguars and Colts. There would be no out this time.

• You play to win the game!

Former NFL coach Herman Edwards once famously uttered these six words while coaching the Jets.

It was a funny clip, but it's solid.

Everyone invested — players, coaches, front office personnel, fans — spends a lot of time hoping for a payoff.

Titans receiver Kendall Wright, for one, doesn't even like the thought of fans rooting for a loss so the Titans can get a better draft pick.

"They are not real fans anyway if they are telling you to lose," Wright said. "Winning is the most important thing. Most guys who play this game don't even play it for the money. … Nobody on this team would go out there and lose a game on purpose just to get a higher pick in the draft."

Root for a loss, because ...

•It would give the Titans a better draft pick.

Right now, the Titans are scheduled to pick second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, right behind the Buccaneers.

The Titans remain in the mix for the first overall pick, and if they lose out, they could very well earn it — if that's what you want to call it.

At 2-12 they're tied with the Jaguars, Buccaneers and Raiders for the worst record in the NFL. Want a shot at Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota? How about Alabama receiver Amari Cooper? Two more losses and the Titans could have their pick, or be in a great position to find a trading partner to acquire more picks come May.

Two more wins and they could potentially pick as far back as sixth.

• It would make next year's schedule easier.

All but two games for 2015 have been set, and those two games will be determined by where the Titans end up finishing in the AFC South. The lower the finish, the weaker those two teams will be on next year's schedule. If the Titans lose to the Jaguars, they'll drop to fourth place in the AFC South with a week to go.

This is certain: In 2015 the Titans will face the Colts, Texans, Jaguars, Bills, Dolphins, Falcons and Panthers at LP Field. They're set to face the Patriots, Saints, Jets, Buccaneers, Colts, Texans and Jaguars on the road.

One of the other home games will be against an AFC West opponent that finishes this season in the same place in its division as the Titans. If the Titans finish fourth, they'll face the Raiders (2-12) next year. A third-place finish would bring a more formidable foe, either the Chargers or Chiefs, both 8-6, to town.

The other road game will be against the AFC North team that finishes the same as the Titans this season. That figures to be the Browns (7-7) if the Titans finish fourth. If the Titans finish in third, it would likely be either the Bengals, Steelers or Ravens, all currently with nine wins.

• It could lead to even more changes.

Titans fans are a disgruntled group right now, and they should be — their team is a mess.

The Titans haven't been to the playoffs since 2008, and they haven't won a playoff game since the 2003 season.

The past few years have been miserable, and the promise of better things to come this year has turned out to be a lie.

President/CEO Tommy Smith has made it clear: Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster are safe this offseason, no matter what. But he's promised some big changes are coming to the roster in 2015.

The bigger the debacle, the more changes, right?

Reach Jim Wyatt at 259-8015 or on Twitter @jwyattsports.