Contemplating they’ve been probably the most profitable NFL franchises in recent times, the Chiefs don’t have a whole lot of scores to settle.
Sunday night time at Arrowhead Stadium, the place the Chiefs (5-2) will host the Titans (5-2), will probably be an exception. On a number of ranges.
Most not too long ago, the Titans waxed the Chiefs, 27-3, final season.
“We weren’t prepared,” Kansas Metropolis quarterback Patrick Mahomes informed reporters this week when requested about that earlier assembly. “And so they beat our ass.”
The Chiefs, who enter the sport with a one-game lead over the Chargers within the AFC West, have the Tremendous Bowl appearances (two previously three seasons), however the Titans have had their quantity — and the variety of their head coach Andy Reid, in opposition to whom they’re 7-1.
“They've that mentality that they’re going to return in and win, and a whole lot of instances on this league once you don’t have the arrogance coming in, you’re going to lose,’’ Mahomes stated. “However when you could have a staff that's as assured as you, it’s going to be a battle. You watch that on movie and see the way you performed, it wasn’t simply them beating us. We performed dangerous they usually simply put it down on us on the finish of the day. Now we have to grasp they’re going to be able to go.”
The Titans, who've a two-game lead over the Colts within the AFC South, have received 5 of the previous six conferences between the groups, together with playoffs. Kansas Metropolis’s one win got here within the 2019 AFC Championship sport, which despatched the Chiefs to Tremendous Bowl LIV.
Tennessee additionally comes into the sport as the most popular staff within the league, apart from undefeated Philadelphia, having received 5 in a row after beginning 0-2.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who hopes to return after lacking the win over Houston final week with an ankle harm, referred to as Arrowhead Stadium a “powerful [and] enjoyable place to play.’’
“It’s an environment that you simply dream about once you’re a child, going right into a rowdy street surroundings,’’ he stated. “They love soccer. They’re loud. They’re into it the entire sport.”
A method for the Titans to quiet the rabid Kansas Metropolis devoted is with working again Derrick Henry, who rushed for 219 yards and two touchdowns within the win over the Texans final Sunday. Henry has rushed for 563 yards in 112 makes an attempt with 5 TDs in Tennessee’s previous 4 video games.
He was held to 69 dashing yards dashing within the Chiefs’ win within the AFC title sport in January 2020. Henry gained simply 86 dashing yards within the assembly final season, and the Titans received huge anyway.
“There are going to be issues that you simply’re going to do to attempt to cease him — I believe the entire NFL has tried that someplace,” Reid stated. “He’s an awesome participant, and also you’re not going to cease him on each play. You simply wish to get the numbers up the place it’s an inexpensive variety of stops.”
One quantity that’s tough to disregard is Reid’s uncanny 20-3 profession document as a head coach in video games after a bye week. And the Chiefs are coming off their bye week.
Tannehill was changed final week by third-round decide Malik Willis — who wasn’t requested to do lots within the passing sport, going 6-for-10 for 55 yards with an interception.
One thing to look at Sunday will probably be how a lot the Chiefs incorporate receiver Kadarius Toney, whom they acquired in a commerce with the Giants earlier than the commerce deadline. Toney, who had hassle staying on the sphere with hamstring accidents and different points, has claimed he’s wholesome and able to play.
This week is the primary of two video games the Chiefs will probably be taking part in with out defensive finish Frank Clark, who was suspended for violating the NFL’s private conduct coverage. However their first-round decide, cornerback Trent McDuffie, is anticipated to play for the primary time since hurting his hamstring within the season opener at Arizona.
The Titans and Chiefs are tied for the second-best document within the AFC behind the Payments, who've overwhelmed them each, which suggests this sport might have playoff implications by way of seeding and home-field benefit ought to they meet once more.
“I simply concentrate on ways in which we predict we are able to beat the Chiefs and the way we are able to put together,’’ Titans coach Mike Vrabel informed reporters this week. “All that stuff actually takes care of itself.’’
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