Chiefs vs. Titans: Major storylines for the AFC Championship

Chris Jones is a major factor whether he plays or not

Speaking of personnel, Chris Jones is “day to day” according to Andy Reid. All of Chiefs Kingdom cringes at that designation. It’s not just because Eric Berry spent an entire season as “day to day,” but it also honestly tells us nothing.

Will he play? I have no idea. I’d guess he would because it’s the AFC Championship game, but truthfully I’m not even sure the trainers know yet whether his calf will be healthy enough to play. Everyone is different, and we’ve seen that play out with injuries time and again.

Jones was an absolute force in the game against the Titans in Week 10. It was one of his most dominant game of the season in which he posted eight combined tackles, one tackle for loss, and two sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he was average overall with a grade of 62.0 but was high quality with a pass rushing grade of 83.9.

If he plays, he’s arguably one of the best at his position and just one more big-bodied athlete for Henry to have to run through and Tannehill to have to escape. If not, this will present just another challenge for a defense preparing to face a physical offense. With the uncertainty, Spagnuolo will have to earn his paycheck this week preparing for either eventuality.

My Prediction – Chiefs 40, Titans 27

So it is that the Chiefs have returned to the same exact place at which their historic 2018 season ended. Where most expected the New England Patriots to be waiting, before the season, and the Baltimore Ravens, during the season, stands a more unremarkable team in the Tennessee Titans. They’re the type of team that figuratively brings their lunch pail to work, as the saying goes.

Honestly, I’ve been a fan of the Titans in their playoff run. It was fairly enjoyable watching them knock off the Patriots, and make them look so helpless while doing it. In the same fashion, after the national analysts gave them no chance against the Baltimore Ravens, they delivered a similar performance. I don’t particularly like either of those teams, or their fan bases for that matter, so it was fun to watch.

I’ll also be honest, there is a small part of me that is concerned about the outcome of this game. The Titans have looked like an incredibly formidable opponent the last few weeks, and this is the NFL. Any given Sunday is a phrase for a reason, as any NFL game either opponent could win. The Chiefs will undoubtedly need their “A” game on Sunday if they wish to move on to the franchise’s first Super Bowl berth in 50 season.

Unfortunately for the Titans, I think we saw the Chiefs wake up against the Houston Texans. Before last Sunday, I’m not sure we had seen the Chiefs “A” game more than a handful of times this season. I think that was in part a hangover from 2018 and the most success the team has had in years, and in part the expectations parroted by national and local analysts alike that this team could possibly go 16-0.

I think there was a belief that “the Chiefs can simply show up and wipe the floor with their opponent.” Along with the numerous injuries that prohibited this team from achieving its full potential during the regular season. I think this team was shocked back to reality on Sunday, which I think led them to release an onslaught never before seen in the NFL.

Based on the factors in this article and the fact the Chiefs seem to have emerged from hibernation this past Sunday, I think the Titans have very little chance in this game. I expect the Chiefs to score on most of their drives, slow Henry down enough to make the Titans throw, and likely give up a score or two in garbage time to make the game look a lot closer.