This week feels a bit different for Kansas City Chiefs fans.
For the first time in several years—11, to be exact—Chiefs Kingdom will sit down to watch a regular season game with absolutely nothing on the line for the postseason. There's no jostling for seeding. There's no chase for a division title. There are no tiebreakers or first-round byes or even a desperate wild card spot. There's just a regular-season game against the Tennessee Titans with zero stakes attached for all parties involved.
Sure, there are storylines to be found as the Chiefs try to find their way forward from the wreckage of Week 15. Gardner Minshew will try his hand at leading the Chiefs offense in the wake of Patrick Mahomes' ACL injury. Several players scheduled for free agency are still very much hoping to sway potential bidders. And if you're buying what defensive tackle Chris Jones was selling in post-game quotes following the Chiefs' loss to the Chargers last Sunday, there's also good ol' pride.
How will the Chiefs look against the Titans in Week 16? And who will even be available? A brutal season could take an even more depressing turn if K.C. actually loses to the Titans, who have been "fighting" for the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft all season long. Then again, Cam Ward would probably love to stick a feather in his cap and say he defeated the Chiefs—with or without Mahomes.
Let's take a look at what our writers are predicting for Week 16 as the Chiefs travel to Nashville.
Our writers' predictions are in for a Chiefs-Titans game that feels far more pathetic than anyone could have anticipated.
Price Carter
The best thing for this franchise is to lose every game the rest of the season. The best thing for me personally as our lead draft analyst is for them to lose out. Which means, they'll all roll into Nashville wearing shirts tributing Patrick Mahomes. The pass rush will come alive for 7 sacks, Isiah Pacheco will have his first 100 yard game since 2023, the special teams will play clean flawless football and the receivers won't drop a single pass. Chiefs 41, Titans 7
Matt Conner
To say the Chiefs have tons of questions to answer isn't just a reference to the offseason. It's also about a roster best described as the walking wounded with three games left to play. At this stage, I still trust the Chiefs to come out on top in a matchup of two pitiful teams. These things are relative and the Chiefs will at least prove that much. Chiefs 18, Titans 14
Bransen Gibson
Patrick Mahomes is hurt, the Chiefs have been knocked out of the playoffs, and vibes are at a 10-year low. But surely—surely—the Chiefs can't lose to the Titans, right? I can't bring myself to say that a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations will lose to an opponent that had the first overall pick in this year's draft. Minshew Mania will top the Titans. Chiefs 20, Titans 17
Lyle Graversen
Obviously the Chiefs playoff hopes are dead, but I think the defense still plays with a little pride and Andy schemes up just enough for the offense to pull out an ugly win against a bad team. Chiefs 17, Titans 13
Braden Holocek
Kansas City fans are probably hoping the Chiefs lose out to secure a better draft pick. It wouldn’t even be surprising if K.C. actually struggled to put it all together and lose all three with a backup in at QB. However, I just think this offensive supporting cast around Cam Ward is too inept to get it going against a unit coached by Spags. Even if it is younger pieces getting increased chances and reps. Chiefs 22, Titans 14
Shawn O'Brate
Who knows what to expect this week? Honestly, it could be all second-stringers, or it could be Andy Reid trying to get guys some incentives filled with playing time. It’s almost impossible to guess, but with how poorly the Titans offense has played against even the most mediocre defenses, I expect the Chiefs to (sadly) win this game with their defense. A loss wouldn’t be terrible, as it would mean a better draft pick to pair with Mahomes and company next year, but Minshew and KC don’t operate that way. Chiefs 21, Titans 16
Charles Robinson
Going off of recent standards, the Chiefs truly have nothing to play for on Sunday. The postseason is lost, as is QB1, and a long off-season awaits. But with the personnel decisions that will have to be made between now and Week 1 of the 2026 season, there is a ton to play for for many on the Chiefs roster. This final three-game stretch will be very telling as to who will be a part of the plan in 2026 and who the team will bid adieu to between now and next July. I expect some of the young guys on the Chiefs roster to play with tremendous effort and focus. Oddly enough, I see the team going 2-1 in the final three, with this being one of the two. Chiefs 20, Titans 16
Lucas Strozinsky
“This is the way the world ends.” — My Chemical Romance. Titans 15, Chiefs 14