Another big game is on deck for the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. They’re in the midst of a brutal stretch that includes games against the Bills, Chiefs, Colts, Rams, and Saints. It’s the second game of the toughest part of their schedule, but the match-up looks a little bit more favorable than the one against the Buffalo Bills, and look at what the Titans were able to do on Monday night. The Kansas City Chiefs come to Nissan Stadium at 3-3, having turned the ball over 14 times in six games, and boasting a defense that is among the worst in the league. But, I’d caution Titans fans to be overly optimistic about this game. We’re still talking about Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill here. At 3-3, the Chiefs do feel a bit like a sleeping giant. Oddsmakers obviously still respect the Chiefs, as they are currently 4.5-point favorites at high noon on Sunday, with a point total set at over/under 57.5. So, what do I think the Titans have to do to pull off the upset for the second week in a row? LFG.
Titans Keys to Victory: vs. Chiefs, 10/24/21
*Time management – I’m not just talking about being savvy with timeouts, the clock, etc. – we know Mike Vrabel can have elite clock management games. I’m talking about how you use your time when you have possession of the ball. With this Chiefs offense, there’s always a little bit of ‘defense by offense.’ If the Titans can sustain drives with the run game, and that may mean more 4.5 yards per carry for Derrick Henry than 14.3 yards per carry, they can keep Mahomes and company sidelined. We saw this against the Bills on Monday night. The defense was on the field an awful lot early on in that game, but once Henry got going, the offense found its rhythm, and they were able to control the game and punch the Bills in the mouth in the second half. That should be the same mindset going into another game against another high powered offense – use your time wisely.
*Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker – *maybe* Elijah Molden while we’re at it, but I’ll get to him in a second. We’ve seen how the Titans have played the Chiefs in the past, essentially doubling up on Kelce and Hill and making Mahomes beat them with his 3rd and 4th options. Now, if you’re doing that, it obviously opens up running lanes for Mahomes to take off, and that has been a backbreaker in previous games. But, if they deploy this same strategy, the Titans will need big games in coverage from Byard and Hooker. Byard is having a bounce-back season for sure, but this will be a real test for Hooker, not only in competition, but it’ll test his health having come off of IR for the Bills game. If these two can hold their water, the Titans chances on defense improve. Molden is an interesting piece – he struggled early on in the season in a bit of a trial by fire, but he’s settled into a nice role in recent weeks. He’s great at the line of scrimmage, and the Titans can use him to sort of spy on Mahomes. I dare say he can be counted on to be that missing piece they didn’t have in previous match-ups to meet Mahomes in the open field and bring him down. This secondary is hurting right now, so it’s imperative that these guys step up.
*One turnover – That’s all I think it’ll take. Steal one possession. Force this Chiefs offense into a turnover as they’ve demonstrated a propensity for doing, and the Titans could very well pull off this upset – I expect this will be an electric shootout, but if the Titans can win the turnover margin, they’ll be in great shape to control the game, dictate the pace, and outlast another elite offense.
Check out the latest episode of The Unofficial Titans Podcast, on which Owen and I talk about this massive AFC showdown between the Titans and Chiefs here:
Listen to “Ep. 81: How We Feelin’ About Kansas City?” on Spreaker.If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcast, and be on the lookout for my game reaction podcast on Monday – win, lose, or draw.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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