KC lost last year’s match against the Titans, and in ugly fashion. The Chiefs will have revenge on their minds as they take the field on SNF.
The Kansas City Chiefs host the Tennessee Titans tonight in a clash of two division leaders in the AFC. The winner will move to 6-2 and tied for the top seed in the conference playoff race. Kansas City lost last year’s match against the Titans, and in ugly fashion. The Chiefs should have revenge on their minds as they take the field on Sunday Night Football.
Everyone on the staff picked the Chiefs to win in Week 7 except for yours truly, so I am bringing up the rear in season records. I was happy to be wrong about that game. Here’s a look at this week’s picks:
Patrick Allen (5-2)
The Chiefs are massive favorites in this game, as they should be. KC is coming off a bye, and they should be much healthier on defense. That said, the Chiefs need to be careful here. The Titans, despite their struggles, have still managed to cobble together the same record as Kansas City this season. Tennessee is well-coached and features an absolute game-wrecker in Derrick Henry. The Chiefs are far and away the better team but they had better beware of coming out flat because Tennessee has enough talent to make them pay if they do.
Chiefs 30, Titans 17
Matt Conner (5-2)
The ghost of the Titans might loom large, and it’s very impressive the way they’re always coached up to play the Chiefs. But the distance between the quarterbacks playing this game is enough to make this a wash of a game for KC coming out of the bye.
Chiefs 32, Titans 21
Bransen Gibson (5-2)
The Chiefs and Titans may have identical records, but one of these teams is not like the other. After a week off and looking for revenge after last season’s demolition at the hands of Tennessee, I think the Chiefs will be far too strong. If KC can limit the run game, it could get ugly.
Chiefs 38, Titans 20
Lyle Graversen (5-2)
While I wouldn’t be surprised if the Chiefs let themselves get caught up in a sloppy lower-scoring game, I just don’t see the Titans having enough offensive firepower to keep pace with the Chiefs for four quarters. In fact, if the Chiefs can stop Derrick Henry (a big “if”) it could get out of hand, but we’ve seen KC lack the killer instinct and not put teams away before.
Chiefs 27 Titans 20
Anthony Hatton (5-2)
Both of these teams are 5-2 for Sunday Night Football. Kansas City’s run defense has been suspect lately. The Titans have the most dominant running back over the past half-decade. Derrick Henry’s legs may churn out a lot of yards but he’ll be seeing plenty of Nick Bolton. Henry as the only true weapon is the reason Tennessee hasn’t been able to score over 26 points all season. The Chiefs should continue to be the highest-scoring team in the NFL behind Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
Chiefs 37, Titans 17
Scott Loring (3-4)
The game hinges completely on Derrick Henry, and I think the Chiefs will bottle him up. Historically, he has done very well in the regular season against Kansas City (110 yards rushing per game), and has never lost to the Chiefs in the regular season, either. However, I think the current offensive personnel of the Titans puts Steve Spagnuolo in a position to bring his safeties up into the box and play a lot of press man outside, forcing Ryan Tannehill or Malik Willis to beat them with their mediocre passing game. I predict the Chiefs keep Henry in check and win handily.
Chiefs 41, Titans 21
Ellen Mathis (6-1)
Revenge is a dish best served cold. Apparently, the Chiefs got blown out last year by the Titans…I have absolutely no recollection of this so apparently blocking memories is my coping mechanism. But, I do think the fact that the Titans are still questioning what quarterback is starting and there is a real sting from last year driving this week means that the Chiefs come out on top.
Chiefs 31, Titans 17
Jacob Milham (5-2)
At first glance, this would be one of Kansas City’s most competitive games. Both teams are 5-2 and on top of their respective divisions. But the Chiefs are rightfully two-score favorites traveling to Tennessee. The Titans struggle to pass the ball and defend it, something Andy Reid will certainly take advantage of. Running back Derrick Henry’s Week 8 performance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week, but he has not been dominant every week, like in past seasons. The Titans will live and die by the run against Kansas City, but Tennessee’s quarterback questions will allow Steve Spagnuolo to key in on Henry. This might be another “trap game” for Kansas City, but the Chiefs will comfortably avenge their embarrassing 2021 loss this week.
Chiefs 34, Titans 21
Greg Morse (5-2)
The Chiefs got absolutely obliterated by the Titans last year – thankfully I wasn’t able to watch that game. I have no doubt that they are looking for revenge and if Ryan Tannehill is out again, this could get ugly. I expect the Chiefs to handle Derrick Henry just fine.
Chiefs 31, Titans 21
KC Proctor (5-2)
Derrick Henry missed practice on Thursday for an undisclosed, “not injury related,” reason. Sketchy news for the Titans, and a possible break for the Chiefs. Henry is averaging 24/125/1 in his career vs KC. Take Ryan Tannehill out of the equation, and the 12.5-point spread isn’t crazy at all. In fact, I’d fully expect the Chiefs to cover.
Chiefs 27, Titans 10
Charles Robinson (6-1)
The Titans are somehow 5-2, but it feels like a much different 5-2 than what the Chiefs have accomplished thus far in 2022. The 5 games the Titans have won have come against 5 opponents with a combined 13 wins on the year, including 2 wins over the Colts. While that common opponent analysis might tip the scales toward Tennessee, almost every other indicator would direct you toward the Chiefs. Kansas City comes into this game with the league’s top-ranked offense and the defense coming off of an impressive performance on the road at San Francisco in week 7. With the Titans’ quarterback situation up in the air (Tannehill or Willis?), unless Derrick Henry can break off another 200 yards and a couple of scores against KC, the Chiefs should win this one with relative ease. There also might be a chip on KC’s shoulder after the embarrassment in Nashville last season.
Chiefs 41, Titans 17
Byron Smith
The Chiefs coming off a bye are the most powerful team in the league. The high-flying offense should finally be clicking and the defense gets Willie Gay and Trent McDuffie fully back. Derrick Henry may get loose, but Nick Bolton and Willie Gay will shut that down if they follow Spags’ proven formula for winning that matchup.
Chiefs 31, Titans 20
Lucas Strozinsky (5-2)
I am going to make this prediction assuming that Ryan Tannehill will play for Tennessee. The Titans are 5-2, the same as the Chiefs, but they definitely aren’t as good as Kansas City. Though Tennessee is a step behind the Chiefs, this game will definitely not be easy. The problem the Titans have is that they have an underwhelming receiving core, and the Chiefs will see their rookie cornerback Trent McDuffie return to game action. The Titans likely won’t be able to attack Kansas City down the field, but they could rely on Derrick Henry to attack a below-average Chiefs run defense. It would make sense for Steve Spagnuolo to stack the box and bet on his young cornerback group to cover an average receiving core. On the other side of the ball, Tennessee has a great defense that is definitely better than their yards allowed/game metric may show. They have an elite pass rush, led by Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry, and they can also cover well. If their pass rush can bother Patrick Mahomes consistently, this game could get sketchy for the Chiefs, but I’m still picking them to win a fairly ugly game.
Chiefs 23, Titans 17
Grant Tuttle (6-1)
The Chiefs have a weird ghost that turns them into a pumpkin when it comes to the Titans. This year will truly test the theory of the Titans having the Chiefs’ number. If you combine the records of the teams that Tennessee has beaten this year, (bearing in mind that they have beaten the Colts twice) the overall record would be 10-18. The Titans have Derrick Henry and that’s about it. They have shaky quarterback play and a bad pass defense. The Chiefs are playing their best ball and should beat them handily…. that is if the ghost of Tennessee doesn’t return.
Chiefs 31 Titans 17