Titans vs. Chiefs AFC Wild Card Weekend preview

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Titans vs. Chiefs: AFC Wild Card Weekend preview Published: Jan 04, 2018 at 02:26 AM Digital Content Editor The Backstory Wild Card Weekend opens with a strange, unexpected matchup. If things had broken the way many expected with four weeks to go, Kansas City wouldn't be division champions, hosting a playoff game for the second straight season. With three consecutive lo ses at one point in December, few expected the to snag the top wild-card spot, not to mention even make the postseason. Kansas City hasn't won consecutive AFC West titles since, well, ever. With Reid and under center, the have made the playoffs four times in five seasons, but have won just one game, a drubbing of 's fraudulent in 2016. Their three lo ses have all come at the hands of top-tier QBs ( , , Ben Roethlisberger), calling into question whether K.C. can win a , or hell, make an AFC title game with Smith at the helm. This year could be Kansas City's best chance: Smith put up career-high numbers; and have replaced and from years past, and Morgan Cox Jersey then some; and is the league's best tight end west of Plymouth Bay. An aging, injury-riddled defense and the presence of young gunslinger , though, are signals that time is running out for the current nucleus to chase glory, that this might be the last march. Rejuvenated by an influx of young talent ( , , Adoree' Jackson), Tenne see is back in the postseason for the first time since 2008. But if not for a Week 17 win over the , Tenne see would have fallen out of the race. Mike Mularkey's exotic smashmouth offense has struggled to replicate their 2016 production. Mariota is le s explosive -- the same goes for gimpy -- and his reworked receiving corps hasn't picked him up. But Tenne see is buoyed by an advantageous and improving defense, led by interception king . Living on the fringes of relevance for so long, the will be back on the main stage Saturday where, thanks to their late-season slide, no one expects much of them. What's new? Under Pre sure , QB, Titans: The humble Hawaiian gets his first shot at righting this year's wrongs. Entering the pros as a mobile threat, Mariota was hindered by injuries and sluggish receiver play in this, his worst season as a pro. The league's best play-action pa ser and one of its most proficient under pre sure, Mariota's 79.3 pa ser rating is still the lowest among qualified playoff QBs. His struggles on tight-window throws , and his ill-timed turnovers sank Tenne see on multiple occasions. But against a vulnerable secondary, Mariota has an opportunity to live up to his second-overall billing. Andy Reid, coach, Chiefs: It's not quite the end of an era in Kansas City, but it feels damn near close. Next season, Reid, the creative steward of two cursed franchises, is at risk of losing his hot-shot offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, to a needy team and is expected to transfer power from Smith to Mahomes, Jordan Lasley Jersey whose free-wheeling style will change the ' identity for years to come. Coaching decisions have been at the heart of K.C.'s last three postseason lo ses, too; think running the clock down in New England, and blowing a 38-10 third-quarter lead in Indy. A lo s to an underwhelming upstart in Tenne see would damage Reid's legacy immeasurably. Matchup to Watch Kansas City receivers vs. Tenne see secondary:When K.C.'s offense was rolling earlier this year, much of it was due to the long-dormant downfield threat. Per Pro Football Focus, Hill has the highest catch rate (52.2 percent), Kelce leads all tight ends in receptions (9) and yards (266) on deep balls and Smith is the most accurate deep-ball pa ser in the league (56.5 percent). You heard that right. Tenne see has a counter for that. The have allowed Marshal Yanda Jersey the second-lowest pa ser rating on deep attempts (42.1) and are the only club to allow fewer than 10 deep completions (7). With speed demons Hill and rookie corner and big bodies Kelce and Byard locked on each other, look for to have a make-or-break day in the slot. Prediction This one will turn on turnovers. The are the only playoff team with a negative TO differential (-4), while Kansas City is plus-nine since ' team-imposed suspension. If the can force Mariota to test Peters and commit turnovers, K.C. will dictate the pace of this postseason opener and finally send an Arrowhead crowd home happy in January. 22, 16 This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be mi sing content or contain faulty links. Please use the Contact Us link in our site footer to report an i sue.
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