NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With teams trying to clamp down the final playoff spots Sunday, the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns find themselves at the other end of the NFL spectrum.
They lead the procession tumbling toward next year's No. 1 draft pick.
The Titans and Browns are 3-12, and chances are one of them will wind up with the No. 1 pick overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. In the reluctant race to the bottom of the standings, they have a slight edge over San Diego, Dallas and San Francisco -- all tied at 4-11.
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The 49ers could finish at 4-12 this year, and have a chance to finish with a top-three pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
That leaves some Titans and Browns fans in the peculiar position of rooting for a loss Sunday that would put their team in line for the top pick.
Players and coaches have been saying it's about now, not next year.
"Obviously, you'd like to walk away a winner and feel good about yourself for all the hard work," Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey said.
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The Browns beat Tennessee 28-14 in Week 2, but head-to-head isn't the tiebreaker used to determine draft order. Instead, opponents' strength of schedule is key with the edge given to the team playing weaker competition. Playing in the AFC South where only Houston has as many as eight wins would give the Titans that tiebreaker if both teams lose Sunday.
Victories by Cleveland and Tennessee will certainly make things more complicated as the strength of schedule tiebreaker will be affected by nearly every game Sunday.
Both teams will be without their Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks because of injuries. Marcus Mariota will miss his second straight game with a sprained right knee, giving Zach Mettenberger the start Sunday in Indianapolis (7-8). Mettenberger is winless in nine career starts, while the Titans haven't won in Indianapolis since 2007.
Johnny Manziel is out with a concussion, so Austin Davis will start for the Browns against Pittsburgh (9-6). Cleveland has beaten the Steelers only six times since 1999.