The Tennessee Titans have transformed to a giant-slayer in the playoffs. After starting the season with a 2-4 record, the Titans are now a win away from making it to Super Bowl 54 where they currently have +650 odds to win it all. First, they will have to take care of the Super Bowl favorite Kansas City Chiefs, who pulled off a sensational come-from-behind win in the Divisional round. Can they keep this miracle-run going?
There is arguably no more fearsome individual in these playoffs than Titans running back Derrick Henry- and he’s got a solid resume to prove that he is. In their ground-shaking 28-12 upset win over the Baltimore Ravens on the road in the divisional round, Henry toyed with his defenders on his way to finishing with 195 rushing yards on 30 carries. Prior to that, Henry smashed his way to a 182 rushing-yard performance in the win over the New England Patriots on the road in Foxboro during the wild card round. And this isn’t just Henry coming out of nowhere in the playoffs; Henry has rushed for at least 103 yards in four of the Titans’ last five games. To say that he’s going to cool down against Kansas City is also to forget that the former Alabama Crimson Tide star rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the Titans’ 35-32 win over the Chiefs at home back in Week 9. Apart from Henry, the Titans’ defense has taken on a better form of late, having allowed no more than 13 points to a team since the playoffs started.
What about QB Ryan Tannehill’s contribution? The Titans have managed two major upsets with their quarterback throwing under 100 yards in each game, but his level of play over the last pair of games cannot be defined by that stat at all. He deserves his place in the Conference Championship and will certainly throw for more yards against KC.
The Titans are 3-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last four games.
Betting on the Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
51-31. That’s not a score between two slow-tempo college basketball teams. Rather, it was from the Chiefs’ win over the Houston Texans at home last Sunday that punched Andy Reid and his men to the AFC Championship Game. The Chiefs were down 24-0 in the second quarter, but once they found their offensive groove, there was nothing Houston could do. Patrick Mahomes went 23 for 35 with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also led his team on the ground with 53 rushing yards, while Damien Williams had two rushing scores and Travis Kelce had three touchdown catches. If the Chiefs can find a way to slow down Henry, they’ll be able to handle the rest of the Titans in all likelihood. The Chiefs can fight fire with fire with Tennessee on offense with Mahomes going 36 for 50 for 446 passing yards and three touchdowns and zero picks thrown in the loss to the Titans, and up against what should be a more spent Titans defense, he should be able to find his way in connecting with his wide array of talented receivers.
The Chiefs are 2-1 ATS in their last three home games.
