BQB Red Friday Preview: Chiefs @ Titans

Who: Kansas City Chiefs at Tennesses Titans

When: Sunday, November 10 @ 12 PM

Where: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)

I’m trying hard to not let recent history get to me on this one. I know this is a different season with a different Chiefs team, but I believe remembering one’s past serves as motivation so here’s a quick recap of the Chiefs’ last two games against the Titans.

The Titans are an “under the radar team” so when people see them on the schedule, they usually mark them as an automatic win (I know I did both times I saw it and I was wrong).

During the 2016 regular season, the Titans came to Arrowhead on a freezing cold day in December and won because of a running play call made by the Chiefs on 3^rd and 4 that I did not agree with. Then the Chiefs attempted to freeze Titans’ kicker Ryan Succop, which I also did not agree with.

The second time they met was the AFC wild card game (also played at Arrowhead). The Chiefs stomped the Titans in the first half - leading them 21-3 by half time. But in the second half, the wheels seemed to come off. Derrick Henry rushed for 156 yards and dominated the Chiefs defense. Chris Jones was injured, Travis Kelce was injured, and the Titans ended the Chiefs playoff run very early, with a final score of 22-21 Titans.

Since I moved to Kansas City, we have not beaten the Titans. So I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me, this is a grudge match.

Chiefs:

Obviously since I am not a Chiefs trainer or a member of the medical staff nor am I Andy Reid, so I have no idea on if Patrick Mahomes will play or not. It is true that Patrick was projected to make his return this week against the Titans and it is also true that the last two days he has had “full participation” in Chiefs practice.

An argument could be made for sitting him for another week or two, letting him rest until after the Chiefs by week and bringing him back in December for a playoff run.  That is a valid argument. But if he is healthy, then I say, let him do what he does and play some football and start winning some games. The BQB predicts that Mahomes will play on Sunday, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all that if the Chiefs were to get a comfortable lead, to see Matt Moore come in and take some of the load off. If Mahomes does play, for the first time in several weeks he would have all his offensive weapons at his disposal which allows the fireworks to really be lit for the first time in a while.

My offensive game plan prediction is pretty much the same whether Mahomes or Moore plays. It would be nice to get a running game going which (other than that gorgeous 91 yard touchdown run from Damion Williams last week) has been somewhat absent from Chiefs’ recent history. I have heard rumblings in the sports radio media that LeSean McCoy is in the “Dog House” for his propensity for fumbling. While I share that sentiment, I say we let him out of this dog house and run free, so to speak. Because, if a running game going, the play action pass can be put into effect, allowing  Mahomes/Moore to get the ball to play makers like Kelce, Watkins, Hardman and the Cheetah.

Chiefs’ defense has a task ahead of them this week. I optimistically believe this can be accomplished by a Chiefs’ defense (that has been improving weekly) if they contain Titans’ running back Derrick Henry. Mitch Holthus described Henry as a BKWZ (big kid with zits), saying that Henry is like that kid in 7^th grade that matured quickly and no one wanted to tackle him, but when someone finally, Henry would just drag them as they hung onto his leg. Henry is not wiry and elusive. He is 6’3”, 238 pounds. He is a bruiser. He is a boulder rolling down a hill hoping to roll over some Chiefs. It will be up to the improving Chiefs D to contain him. If Henry is contained, and the Chiefs can jump out to an early lead as the Panthers did last week it will force the Titans to resort to a passing game, which is not the strength of the team or Titans’ QB Ryan Tannehill.

The Titans have allowed a league record 38 sacks this season, and the Chiefs have had 15 in their last 3 games alone (9 of those coming against the Broncos)

Titans:

Titans’ starting QB Marcus Mariota was benched a couple weeks ago and replaced by second stringer, Ryan Tannehill. I covered Derrick Henry (the BKWZ) pretty well above but it bodes well to repeat that he will be the Titans’ main attack. The Titans are old school. They love to ground pound the ball, but this is becoming a passing league week by week, and if healthy, we have the best passer in the league.

The Titans’ defense may not be as disruptive in the backfield as other defenses are when facing the Chiefs, but they like to slap you, meaning they might let you run 20 yards or so right before they make a fist and punch the ball out at the end of the run. Also, they have a habit of slapping balls out of the air. They are a hardnosed defense that will make it difficult for Matt Moore to dink and dunk if that ends up being the case. This may cause trouble for a Chiefs run game that has struggled of late. They may not be as disruptive in the backfield but they still rank 8^th in the league for sacks with 25 on the season.

Blind QB Prediction:

While in recent years the Titans have seemed to have the Chiefs’ number, I do believe they have misplaced it. Whether it’s Mahomes or Moore, I believe the Chiefs avenge the playoff loss at home and walk out of Tennessee with the W.

Chiefs 33. Titans 24.