In 2019, the Tennessee Titans had a meaningless game on the next-to-last Sunday of the NFL’s regular season. Regardless of what happened against the New Orleans Saints, the Titans had to beat the Houston Texans in the finale to go to the playoffs.

Against the Saints, Tennessee held out running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher, and lost to New Orleans 38-28. But the next week, Henry ran for 211 yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ 35-14 victory over the Texans to put the Titans in the playoffs. Two more postseason victories followed before the Kansas City Chiefs topped Tennessee 35-24 in the AFC Championship Game.

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This year, the Titans have a meaningless game in the next-to-last week of the NFL’s regular season. Regardless of what happens against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Tennessee must beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the finale on Jan. 8 to go to the playoffs.

Will the Titans keep Henry sidelined again against the Cowboys to unleash him in the regular-season finale?

Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel and Henry have not answered that question this week.

“We’ll have to prepare this week and then see where guys are on Wednesday and even Thursday before we ultimately make a decision,” Vrabel said on Monday, “and see who you feel like could have a setback or who could need some time. I think there’s things we have to look at.”

On Tuesday, Vrabel said: “Where we’re at is where we’re at. We’re trying to figure out what’s the most important thing and what’s best for the team and what’s best for the player.”

The Titans’ injury report might provide a hint. Tennessee has declared eight players out for Thursday night’s game, although Henry wasn’t among them. But the former Alabama All-American is listed with a game-status of doubtful – one rung up from out – because of a hip injury.

“Whatever I got to do and whatever coach needs me to do, I’ll be ready to do,” Henry said on Tuesday in the Tennessee locker room when asked about playing.

Tennessee and Jacksonville have 7-8 records. The winner of their second meeting of 2022 will win the AFC South title and the accompanying home game in the first round of the postseason.

Before that game in Jacksonville, the Jaguars will visit the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Even if one of the teams takes a one-game lead over the other this week, the winner of the Jan. 8 game still will win the division.

If the teams finish tied because Jacksonville won the finale, the Jaguars will get the playoff spot because they swept the season series against Tennessee. Jacksonville defeated the Titans 36-22 on Dec. 11, the middle game of Tennessee’s current five-game losing streak.

If the teams finish tied because the Titans won the finale, Tennessee will get the playoff spot because it has a better record in the division.

The Titans and Cowboys square off at 7:15 p.m. CST Thursday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Prime Video will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.